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Located in the Midwest region of the U.S., Missouri ranks 21st in total area among the states at
69,709 square miles (180,545 square kilometers or 18,054,548 hectares). The state contains 68,898
square miles (178,445 square kilometers or 17,844,500 hectares) of land, whereas 811 square miles
(2,100 square kilometers or 210,048 hectares) are covered by water. Missouri shares borders with Iowa
to the north, Tennessee and Arkansas to the south, Illinois, Kentucky, and Tennessee to the east, and
Nebraska, Kansas, and Oklahoma to the west.
Missouri contains diverse geographical features. The Dissected Till Plains region lies north of the
Missouri River, and is a fertile prairie land crossed by rivers and streams; this area contains many
farms. The primarily flat Osage Plains make up western Missouri, a region known for grain crop
farming. The Ozark Plateau covers the largest expanse of the state, and is known for its natural
beauty of ancient, low mountains and forests, springs, caves, lakes, and rivers. The state’s highest
point, Taum Sauk Mountain, is 1,772 feet (540 meters) above sea level, and is located in the St.
Francois Mountains of this region. Southeast Missouri, the "Bootheel" region, is part of the
Mississippi Alluvial Plain, a floodplain of formerly swampy land that has been drained. Major rivers
in the Show Me State include the Mississippi, Missouri, Osage, St. Francis, and Current Rivers.
Missouri experiences a highly variable, humid continental climate. Its location in the center of
the country places it far enough away from oceans and mountains that their moderating effect is lost.
Air masses are influenced by Arctic cold and the moist, warm air from the Gulf of Mexico. This
scenario lends more extremes to the state’s climate, resulting in cold winters and long, hot summers.
Additionally, temperature variations vary widely among highs and lows, sometimes as much as 30 to 40
degrees F (-1.1 to 4.4 degrees C). Average temperatures for July range around 76 degrees F (24.4
degrees C), but can reach much higher temperatures. Average January temperatures range around 32
degrees F (0 degrees C). Precipitation amounts vary across the year. Winter experiences relatively
little precipitation, although the state can receive 1 to 2 inches (2.54 to 5.08 centimeters) of snow
per week. Spring receives the most precipitation, with an average of 12 inches (30.48 centimeters) of
rain between March and May. Spring also brings volatility of weather, sometimes in the form of
tornadoes; the state averages 90 tornados a year. Summer also receives significant rain, with June as
the wettest month. Fall receives less precipitation, with approximately 10 inches (25.4 centimeters)
of rain from September to November.
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