Wildlife flourish in the Ozarks' environment, ranging from white-tailed deer, coyote, armadillos, elk and turkey to tarantulas, scorpions and collared lizards. Fifty-six species of fish living in the various Ozarks' waters are unique to the region. Birders can find approximately 200 different species of birds, including roadrunners, scissors-tailed flycatchers and trumpeter swans. Three endangered species that are tied into the Ozarks' identity are the Ozark Cavefish, the Ozark Hellbender and the Ozark Big-Eared Bat.
Minerals are among the plentiful natural resources in the Ozarks. The Ozarks minerals include galena, shale, sandstone, limestone, chert, calcite, granite and lead-zinc. Lead-zinc mining, in particular, has served as an important economic engine in the region over the years, and the lead-zinc ore deposits in the Ozarks are "world-class," according to the U.S. Geological Survey. Those Ozarks' lead-zinc ore deposits are called Mississippi Valley Type ore deposits.
For decades, the Ozarks' chief industry was timber, owing to the region's miles and miles of dense forests. Logging maintains an important place in the region's economy, but it is not as dominant as it once was. The Ozarks forests include hickory, maple, pine, dogwood, apple and oak trees. A host of varieties of wildflowers grow in the Ozarks, including dozens that cannot be found anywhere else in the world. Some of the most sought-out include the Showy Lady's Slipper, Loesel's Twayblade and Early Ladies Tresses.
Seven major river basins are part of the Ozarks region, according to a U.S. Geological Survey report. Some of the better-known of these rivers are the White, Buffalo National, North Fork, St. Francis and Black Rivers. Cool lakes dot the landscape, such as the Bull Shoals Lake and the Norfork Lake. The Ozarks also are famous for their karst features, which include springs, sinkholes and caves.
