ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Ozark–St. Francis National Forest

The Ozark-St. Francis National Forest is a really big area with lots of trees and animals that people can go visit and explore. Just like you have a backyard where you can play and have fun, this forest is like a really big backyard for all of us to enjoy.

The forest has two parts, the Ozark National Forest and the St. Francis National Forest. The Ozark part is in the Ozark Mountains in Arkansas and Oklahoma, and the St. Francis part is in eastern Arkansas.

In the forest, there are lots of different types of trees like oak, hickory, and pine trees. There are also many different kinds of animals like deer, bears, and birds. People can go hiking, camping, fishing, and have picnics in the forest.

The forest is also important for other reasons. It keeps our air clean by taking in carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and releasing clean oxygen. It also helps prevent soil erosion by keeping the soil in place with all the trees' roots.

Overall, the Ozark-St. Francis National Forest is like a big playground for nature lovers to go have fun and explore!