Mammoth Spring
Mammoth Spring is a large, first magnitude karst spring that arises in the Ozark Plateau within the state of Arkansas. It is the largest spring in Arkansas and the third-largest spring within the Ozark Plateau region behind Big Spring and Greer Spring. Mammoth Spring is the seventh-largest natural spring in the world.
| Mammoth Spring | |
|---|---|
The Mammoth Spring outlet at normal flow stage. Pictured from the east looking westwardly. | |
| Location | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Arkansas |
| Region | Ozark Plateau |
| City | Mammoth Spring |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Source | Spring River watershed |
| • location | Salem Plateau, Ozark Plateau, Missouri |
| Mouth | Spring River |
• location | Mammoth Spring, AR |
• coordinates | 36°29′51″N 91°32′08″W |
• elevation | 490 ft (150 m) |
| Discharge | |
| • location | Mammoth Spring(harmonic mean flow)1981-2015 |
| • average | 322 cu ft/s (9.1 m3/s)(harmonic mean flow)1981-2015 |
| • maximum | 694 cu ft/s (19.7 m3/s) |
| Basin features | |
| U.S. NNL | Designated 1972 |
The spring's outlet pool is contained entirely within Mammoth Spring State Park. The park is located in the town of Mammoth Spring, which lies in extreme north-central Arkansas. The outlet pool is adjacent to US Highway 63, only 500 ft. south of the Missouri border, and it can be readily seen from the highway. The spring's large discharge volume rushes a few hundred feet down the outlet channel before merging with the Warm Fork of the Spring River to form the Spring River. The cold water that emerges from the spring creates excellent trout fishing conditions and ample flow for water sports on the Spring River. Mammoth Spring was declared a National Natural Landmark by the Department of the Interior in June 1972.