Ozark Hollers
nickcross May 15th, 2007
Let’s talk about the Ozark Mountains. What makes them special? Really, there are much bigger mountains out there. So, why bother with what some would simply call foothills?
From an outdoor enthusiast’s perspective, the Ozarks offer some of the most beautiful and rugged terrain in this part of the country. These mountains harbor the last area of significant topography before things begin to flatten out into the Great Plains to the west. In fact, the tallest waterfall between the Appalachians and the Rockies lies in the heart of the Ozarks.
The true beauty of this region, however, does not lie in the size of the mountains, but in the intricacies found between them. Hollows, or “hollers” as they are referred to by locals, create some of the most serene, enchanted and magical places I have ever visited. In the Ozarks, I have come to realize that it’s not size that matters, but rather the character of the landscape.
The rock here is some of the oldest on the planet’s surface. The oldest rock having been deposited 480 million years ago. Over the eons seas advanced and retreated several times. Sedimentary rock formed, was uplifted and faulted. For the last 300 million years erosion has formed the landscape we recognize today.
It’s the age that manifests itself in these mountains. You can simply feel the wisdom of certain places when you enter them. It is a land of waterfalls, springs, creeks, caves and ancient rock.
The charming beauty that lies in the nooks and crannies of these seemingly nebulous mountains continually amazes me. Sometimes it’s the delicacy of a many-tiered waterfall trickling down a creek, the moss that grows on the rocks in the moist hollows or even an opening in the earth that beckons one to explore the subterranean realm.
The Ozarks may not be home to the highest peaks or the biggest views, but rather exhibit something much less tangible, character. Like a fine wine or a well-prepared meal, the Ozark Mountains offer a depth and richness of character found in few other places in the world.
- Recreation
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