What exactly are the Ozarks? (limestone, mountains, different)

[ajf131]

I wouldn't call the Ozarks a slice of the Smokey Mountains, they are more similar I would say to the Appalachian Mountains in West Virginia. The Ozarks basically cover half of Southern Missouri and northern Arkansas. "Where The Red Fern Grows" discusses life of a family in the Ozarks and displays the hillbilly culture. Ozark culture tends to mirror the South more than the Midwest, but it really is a culture of its own more than anything else. but honestly as a Missourian i'd have to say the Ozarks don't really become noticeably Southern until you around Springfield, Missouri. The Southern aspect of Ozark culture used to be far more dominant across the Ozarks but these days it really is confined to the extreme southern portions of the state. Ozarkians tend to be very politically conservative.

[hughesgirl]

My cousin took me to the ozarks and as I was sitting in the restaurant eating I asked him where the mountains were. He laughed and said I was sitting in them! I wouldn't consider them mountain, they are just hills.

[Ozarks21]

Where were you? There are only a few places in the Ozarks that I would consider truly mountainous and even those are not Rocky Mountain type mountains.

[hughesgirl]

By Lake of the Ozarks. This was about 18 years ago so the exact location is kinda dim. I remember seeing some large trees on the top of the hills and people were calling those maountains.

[NOLA2SGF]

Originally Posted by hughesgirl

By Lake of the Ozarks. This was about 18 years ago so the exact location is kinda dim. I remember seeing some large trees on the top of the hills and people were calling those maountains.

If they were mountains, then instead of a thread called "Define hillbilly" we'd have a thread called "Define mountainbilly".

Sorry, just couldn't help myself!

[hughesgirl]

I like that ...."mountainbilly". I often wondered what people really thought mountains are. Is it some area that is raised higher than another? When we lived in Louisiana the highest elevation in the entire State was 700 feet. They considered this mountainous! When we lived in Nashville they considered what I think were large hills to be mountains. In Tucson and Vegas some mountains are over 9000 ft..these I consider mountains.

[Do da]

It's not really how high the mountains are but how steep the hollows are. There are places in N.W. Arkansas that can drop 8 to 900 feet in a mile or two. Lake of the Ozarks is nice but crowded around main lake body. Branson area is exploding with people. I like Newton County Arkansas because it has rugged wilderness areas I like to think is the heart of the Ozarks. These mountains are older than the Rockies or the Smokies and erosion can be very impressively beautiful. The people are great and friendly. I'm from KC and the Ozarks are my playground.

[Ozarks21]

Lake of the Ozarks is barely in the Ozarks. I think you have to get into far south central missouri and on south into Arkansas to see the Ozark Mountains.

[Lummibeader]

Where is all this located with a starting point of say Stover>>>

[Hondax]

Originally Posted by Lummibeader

Where is all this located with a starting point of say Stover>>>

The Stover area is considered the foothills of the Ozark Region. I live in Windsor which is 45 miles west of Stover and is also thought of the same. To REALLY feel the magnitude of the "Ozarks" you have to get west of Springfield and proceed south in Arkansas, then you can appreciate the majesty of the Ozark Region.

Stover is very rural, forested, and hilly due to the rocky soil. Great timber and cattle country as well as poultry and Turkey farms. VERY hilly in some locals. You are a quick 20 minutes from the Lake of the Ozarks which is a very upscale resort like community.