Missouri is one of the 50 states of the United States of America. The state is located in the Midwest region of the US and has a population of 6,010,688 (2011). The capital is Jefferson City and the standard abbreviation for the state is MO.
The town of Jefferson City is named after Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826), the third president of the United States, although he was born in Shadwell, Virginia.
Missouri is bordered to the north by the states of Iowa and Nebraska, to the east by Illinois and Kentucky, to the south by Oklahoma, Arkansas and Tennessee, and to the west by Kansas.
In northern Missouri lies a prairie-like plateau.
Between the Ozark Plateau, which spans most of the south, and the Missouri that flows north of it, is a plateau that is an offshoot of the Great Plains.
The Ozark Plateau, in the south of the state, has more than 10,000 wells. Big Spring in the Southeast is one of the largest in the United States.
The highest point in the state with an elevation of 540 meters is Taum Sauk Mountain.
Rivers
The major rivers in the state are the Mississippi and the Missouri.
For the most part, the Mississippi forms the eastern border of the state. A small portion of the eastern border is formed by the Des Moines River.
The Missouri River is a tributary of the Mississippi and makes up about one-third of its western border.
The major tributaries of the Missouri in the state of the same name are the Osage, the Gasconade and the Chariton.
Climate and tourism
Missouri has a humid continental climate, which is very variable. Tornadoes occur in the fall and early spring.
Major tourist attractions in Missouri include the cities of St. Louis and Kansas City.
The Ozark area is home to the popular Lake of the Ozarks and the Mark Twain National Forest.
Mark Twain State Park and a museum in the town of Hannibal, his hometown where he spent his childhood, are reminders of the writer Mark Twain.
Towns
Cities Missouri
The main cities in Missouri are next to the capital Jefferson City: Kansas City, St. Louis, Springfield, Independence, Columbia, Lee’s Summit.
O’Fallon, St Joseph, St Charles, St Peters, Blue Springs. Florissant, Joplin, Chesterfield, Cape Girardeau, Wildwood, University City, Ballwin, Raytown.
Major airports in Missouri are Lambert-St. Louis International Airport and Kansas City International Airport.
Missouri County
The US state of Missouri is administratively subdivided into 114 counties and one independent city.
Missouri
Missouri map borders the states of Iowa, Nebraska, Illinois, Kentucky, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Tennessee, and Kansas. The capital is Jefferson City.
Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield
In 1861, one of the first battles of the American Civil War took place at Wilson’s Creek between the Union States and the Confederacy. Also known as the “Battle of Oak Hills”, the battle took place near Springfield, Missouri. It was the first major battle of the war west of the Mississippi River. That’s when the armies of Generals Nathaniel Lyon and Benjamin McCulloch clashed here.
Today, August 9, 1861, plans for the attack were being formed on both sides, the battle broke out the next day around 5 o’clock in the morning. Confederate troops attacked the Union troops about three times that day, but never once did they succeed in breaking the Union line. General Lyon was killed in this battle, so he was replaced by Samuel D. Sturgis. Sturgis took command, but his troops were already severely depleted and low on ammunition. He therefore ordered a retreat to Springfield. The southerners won then, but they were unable to capitalize on their success. The site of the battle has not changed much over the centuries, except for the vegetation, the field has remained in almost its original state.
It is home to the Civil War Museum, which houses an excellent collection of artifacts related to that war. Today, the site of the battle is protected as a National Battlefield and operated by the National Park Service. There is a visitor center where you can watch a short film about the battle and the history of the place. There is also a library and a souvenir shop. Every year on the anniversary of the battle, the so-called Memorial Day is held here, where there is a tour of period costumes, a cavalry parade, demonstrations of artillery and musket firing.
Today, the surroundings are crossed by a hiking trail, so visitors can see the entire battlefield, which covers an area of 7 square kilometers. The battlefield has been preserved in almost intact condition, there is even a field hospital, which is open throughout the summer and you can see actors in period clothing. The park currently hosts more than 200,000 visitors a year and is considered one of the three best-preserved and intact Civil War battlefields in the United States. Not only children who want to learn about the history of their country come here, but also more and more guests who are interested in research and study.
