Editing Kansas (section)

==Geography==

[[File:Pond in Kansas.jpg|thumb|Pond in Osage County, Kansas.]]
[[File:Great Plains LCC (14285769265).jpg|thumb|The [[Great Plains]] of Kansas.]]
[[File:Kanopolissp.JPG|thumb|[[Kanopolis State Park]].]]
Kansas is bordered by [[Nebraska]] to the north; [[Missouri]] to the east; [[Oklahoma]] to the south; and [[Colorado]] to the west. The state is divided into [[List of counties in Kansas|105 counties]] with [[List of cities in Kansas|628 cities]], with its largest county by area being [[Butler County, Kansas|Butler County]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.usa.com/rank/kansas-state--land-area--county-rank.htm|title=Kansas Land Area County Rank|website=www.usa.com|access-date=November 27, 2019|archive-date=February 20, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210220154006/http://www.usa.com/rank/kansas-state--land-area--county-rank.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> Kansas is located [[equidistant]] from the Pacific and Atlantic oceans. The [[Geographic center of the contiguous United States|geographic center of the 48 contiguous states]] is in [[Smith County, Kansas|Smith County]] near [[Lebanon, Kansas|Lebanon]]. Until 1989, the [[Meades Ranch Triangulation Station]] in [[Osborne County, Kansas|Osborne County]] was the geodetic center of North America: the central reference point for all maps of North America. The geographic center of Kansas is in [[Barton County, Kansas|Barton County]].

===Geology===

{{Main|Geology of Kansas}}

Kansas is underlain by a sequence of horizontal to gently westward [[Strike and dip|dipping]] [[sedimentary rock]]s. A sequence of [[Mississippian age|Mississippian]], [[Pennsylvanian (geology)|Pennsylvanian]] and [[Permian]] rocks outcrop in the eastern and southern part of the state. The state's western half has exposures of [[Cretaceous]] through Tertiary sediments, the latter derived from the [[erosion]] of the [[Tectonic uplift|uplifted]] [[Rocky Mountains]] to the west. These are underlain by older Paleozoic and Mesozoic sediments which correlate well with the outcrops to the east. The state's northeastern corner was subjected to [[glaciation]] in the [[Pleistocene]] and is covered by [[glacial drift]] and [[loess]].

===Topography===

The western two-thirds of the state, lying in the [[Great Plains|great central plain]] of the United States, has a generally flat or undulating surface, while the eastern third has many hills and forests. The land gradually rises from east to west; its altitude ranges from {{convert|684|ft|m|sp=us|abbr=on}} along the [[Verdigris River]] at [[Coffeyville, Kansas|Coffeyville]] in [[Montgomery County, Kansas|Montgomery County]], to {{convert|4039|ft|m|sp=us|abbr=on}} at [[Mount Sunflower]], {{convert|0.5|mi|km|abbr=off|sp=us}} from the Colorado border, in [[Wallace County, Kansas|Wallace County]]. It is a common misconception that Kansas is the flattest state in the nation—in 2003, a tongue-in-cheek study famously declared the state "flatter than a pancake".<ref>{{cite web |url = http://improbable.com/airchives/paperair/volume9/v9i3/kansas.html |title = Kansas Is Flatter Than a Pancake |publisher = Improbable.com |access-date = July 31, 2010 |url-status = dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100730133707/http://www.improbable.com/airchives/paperair/volume9/v9i3/kansas.html |archive-date = July 30, 2010}}</ref> In fact, Kansas has a maximum topographic relief of {{convert|3360|ft|m|sp=us|abbr=on}},<ref>{{cite web |url = https://www.infoplease.com/world/united-states-geography/highest-lowest-and-mean-elevations-united-states |title = Highest, Lowest, and Mean Elevations in the United States |publisher = infoplease.com |access-date = May 20, 2018 |archive-date = May 21, 2018 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180521191553/https://www.infoplease.com/world/united-states-geography/highest-lowest-and-mean-elevations-united-states |url-status = live }}</ref> making it the 23rd flattest U.S. state measured by maximum relief.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.geotimes.org/oct03/NN_pancake.html |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20040124015708/http://www.geotimes.org/oct03/NN_pancake.html |url-status = dead |archive-date = January 24, 2004 |title = Fracas over Kansas pancake flap |publisher = Geotimes.org |access-date = July 31, 2010 }}</ref>

===Rivers===

[[File:Spring River 2006-07-03 2104.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Spring River (Missouri)|Spring River]], Kansas.]]

Around {{convert|74|mi|km|sp=us|abbr=on}} of the state's northeastern boundary is defined by the [[Missouri River]]. The [[Kansas River]] (locally known as the Kaw), formed by the junction of the [[Smoky Hill River|Smoky Hill]] and [[Republican River|Republican]] rivers at appropriately-named [[Junction City, Kansas|Junction City]], joins the Missouri River at [[Kansas City, Kansas|Kansas City]], after a course of {{convert|170|mi|km|sp=us|abbr=on}} across the northeastern part of the state.

The [[Arkansas River]] ([[Arkansas River#Pronunciations|pronunciation varies]]), rising in [[Colorado]], flows with a bending course for nearly {{convert|500|mi|km|sp=us|abbr=on}} across the western and southern parts of the state. With its tributaries, (the [[Little Arkansas River|Little Arkansas]], [[Ninnescah River|Ninnescah]], Walnut, [[Cow Creek (Kansas)|Cow Creek]], [[Cimarron River (Arkansas River)|Cimarron]], Verdigris, and the [[Neosho River|Neosho]]), it forms the southern drainage system of the state.

Kansas's other rivers are the [[Saline River (Kansas)|Saline]] and Solomon Rivers, tributaries of the Smoky Hill River; the [[Big Blue River (Kansas)|Big Blue]], [[Delaware River (Kansas)|Delaware]], and [[Wakarusa River|Wakarusa]], which flow into the Kansas River; and the [[Marais des Cygnes River|Marais des Cygnes]], a tributary of the Missouri River. Spring River is located between [[Riverton, Kansas|Riverton]] and [[Baxter Springs, Kansas|Baxter Springs]].

===National parks and historic sites===

Areas under the protection of the [[National Park Service]] include:<ref>{{cite web |title = Kansas |publisher = National Park Service |access-date = July 15, 2008 |url = http://www.nps.gov/state/ks |url-status = live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20061217124957/http://www.nps.gov/state/KS/ |archive-date = December 17, 2006}}</ref>
* [[Brown v. Board of Education National Historic Site]] in Topeka
* [[Fort Larned National Historic Site]] in [[Larned, Kansas|Larned]]
* [[Fort Scott National Historic Site]] in Bourbon County
* [[Nicodemus National Historic Site]] at [[Nicodemus, Kansas|Nicodemus]]
* [[Pony Express National Historic Trail]]
* [[Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve]] near [[Strong City, Kansas|Strong City]]

===Flora and fauna===
[[File:Grinter Sunflower Farm (36985501781).jpg|thumb|Sunflower field outside of [[Lawrence, Kansas|Lawrence]].]]
In Kansas, there are currently 238 species of rare animals and 400 rare plants.<ref>{{cite web|date=February 12, 2013|title=Kansas Natural Heritage Inventory: Rare plants and animals, and natural communities|url=https://biosurvey.ku.edu/ksnhi/rare-plants-and-animals|access-date=March 16, 2021|website=Kansas Biological Survey|archive-date=May 10, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220510002224/https://biosurvey.ku.edu/ksnhi/rare-plants-and-animals|url-status=live}}</ref> Among those include: [[Boechera laevigata|Smooth rockress]], [[Virginia rail]], [[Eurycea spelaea|Western Grotto Salamander]], [[Osmunda regalis|Royal Fern]], [[Turkey-tangle]], [[Bobolink]], [[Eurycea lucifuga|Cave salamander]], [[Snowy Plover]], [[Strecker's Chorus Frog]], [[Peregrine falcon]], and [[Black-footed ferret]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Kansas|first=Natural Heritage Inventory|date=January 9, 2014|title=Rare Vertebrates Kansas|url=https://biosurvey.ku.edu/sites/kbs.drupal.ku.edu/files/docs/Rare%20Vertebrates%2009Jan2014.pdf|access-date=March 16, 2021|archive-date=May 10, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220510002221/https://biosurvey.ku.edu/sites/kbs.drupal.ku.edu/files/docs/Rare%20Vertebrates%2009Jan2014.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Kansas|first=Natural Heritage Inventory|date=January 9, 2014|title=Rare Vertebrates of Kansas|url=https://biosurvey.ku.edu/sites/kbs.drupal.ku.edu/files/docs/Rare%20Vertebrates%2009Jan2014.pdf|access-date=March 16, 2021|archive-date=May 10, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220510002221/https://biosurvey.ku.edu/sites/kbs.drupal.ku.edu/files/docs/Rare%20Vertebrates%2009Jan2014.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref> Common animal species and grasses include: [[crow]]s, [[deer]], [[lesser prairie-chicken]], [[Mouse|mice]], [[Eastern Mole|moles]], [[Virginia opossum]], [[Black-tailed prairie dog|prairie dog]]s, [[raccoon]], [[Tripsacum dactyloides|Eastern Gama Grass]], [[Sporobolus heterolepis|Prairie Dropseed]], [[Sorghastrum nutans|Indian Grass]], [[Schizachyrium scoparium|little bluestem]], [[Switch grass]], [[Chasmanthium latifolium|Northern Sea Oats]], [[Carex stricta|Tussock Sedge]], [[Sideoats grama]], and [[Big Bluestem]].<ref>{{cite web|last=K-State Research|first=and Extension|title=Native Plants|url=https://www.johnson.k-state.edu/docs/crops-livestock/native-grass-seed/Native%20Plants%20-%20EMG.pdf|website=www.johnson.k-state.edu|access-date=March 16, 2021|archive-date=May 10, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220510002316/https://www.johnson.k-state.edu/docs/crops-livestock/native-grass-seed/Native%20Plants%20-%20EMG.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Kansas Wildflowers and Grasses|url=https://www.kswildflower.org/|access-date=March 16, 2021|website=www.kswildflower.org|archive-date=February 26, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210226155654/https://kswildflower.org/|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Climate===
[[File:Köppen Climate Types Kansas.png|thumb|[[Köppen climate classification|Köppen climate types]] of Kansas, using 1991–2020 [[Climatological normal|climate normals]].]]
[[File:Kansas Windmills.JPG|thumb|Clouds in northeastern Kansas.]]
[[File:Kansas Summer Wheat and Storm Panorama.jpg|thumb|Kansas summer wheat and storm panorama.]]
In the [[Köppen climate classification]], Kansas has three climates: humid continental, semi-arid steppe, and humid subtropical. The eastern two-thirds of the state (especially the northeastern portion) has a [[humid continental climate]], with cool to cold winters and hot, often humid summers. Most of the precipitation falls during both the summer and the spring. The [[USDA]] [[hardiness zone]]s for Kansas range from Zone 5b (−15&nbsp;°F to −10&nbsp;°F) in the North to Zone 7a (0&nbsp;°F to 5&nbsp;°F) in the South.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.plantmaps.com/en/us/f/hz/state/kansas/plant-hardiness-zones |title=Kansas Hardiness Zones Map - 2023 |publisher=Plantmaps |access-date=Jan 17, 2024 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240117215948/https://www.plantmaps.com/en/us/f/hz/state/kansas/plant-hardiness-zones |archive-date= Jan 17, 2024 }}</ref>

The western third of the state—from roughly the [[U.S. Route 83]] corridor westward—has a [[semi-arid climate|semi-arid]] [[steppe]] climate. Summers are hot, often very hot, and generally less humid. Winters are highly changeable between warm and very cold. The western region receives an average of about {{convert|16|in|mm|abbr=off|sp=us}} of precipitation per year. [[Chinook wind]]s in the winter can warm western Kansas all the way into the {{convert|80|°F|°C|abbr=off}} range.

The south-central and southeastern portions of the state, including the [[Wichita, Kansas|Wichita]] area, have a [[humid subtropical climate]] with hot and humid summers, milder winters, and more precipitation than elsewhere in Kansas. Some features of all three climates can be found in most of the state, with droughts and changeable weather between dry and humid not uncommon, and both warm and cold spells in the winter.

Temperatures in areas between U.S. Routes 83 and [[U.S. Route 81|81]], as well as the southwestern portion of the state along and south of [[U.S. Route 50|U.S. 50]], reach {{convert|90|°F|°C|abbr=}} or above on most days of June, July, and August. High humidity added to the high temperatures sends the [[heat index]] into life-threatening territory, especially in Wichita, [[Hutchinson, Kansas|Hutchinson]], [[Salina, Kansas|Salina]], [[Russell, Kansas|Russell]], [[Hays, Kansas|Hays]], and [[Great Bend, Kansas|Great Bend]]. Temperatures are often higher in [[Dodge City, Kansas|Dodge City]], [[Garden City, Kansas|Garden City]], and [[Liberal, Kansas|Liberal]], but the heat index in those three cities is usually lower than the actual air temperature.

Although temperatures of {{convert|100|°F|°C}} or higher are not as common in areas east of U.S. 81, higher humidity and the [[urban heat island]] effect lead most summer days to heat indices between {{convert|107|and|114|°F|°C}} in [[Topeka, Kansas|Topeka]], [[Lawrence, Kansas|Lawrence]], and the [[Kansas City metropolitan area]]. Also, combined with humidity between 85 and 95 percent, dangerous heat indices can be experienced at every hour of the day.

Precipitation ranges from about {{convert|47|in|mm}} annually in the state's southeast corner to about {{convert|16|in|mm}} in the southwest. Snowfall ranges from around {{convert|5|in|mm}} in the fringes of the south, to {{convert|35|in|mm}} in the far northwest. Frost-free days range from more than 200 days in the south, to 130 days in the northwest. Thus, Kansas is the country's ninth or tenth sunniest state, depending on the source. Western Kansas is as sunny as parts of California and [[Arizona]].

Kansas is prone to severe weather, especially in the spring and the early-summer. Despite the frequent sunshine throughout much of the state, due to its location at a climatic boundary prone to intrusions of multiple air masses, the state is vulnerable to strong and severe thunderstorms. Some of these storms become [[supercell]] thunderstorms; these can produce some [[tornado]]es, occasionally those of [[Enhanced Fujita scale|EF3]] strength or higher. Kansas averages more than 50 tornadoes annually.<ref name="Annual Average Number of Tornadoes">{{cite web |title = Annual Average Number of Tornadoes, 1953–2004 |url = http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/img/climate/research/tornado/small/avgt5304.gif |publisher = [[National Climatic Data Center]] |access-date = October 25, 2006 |url-status = dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20111016174155/http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/img/climate/research/tornado/small/avgt5304.gif |archive-date = October 16, 2011}}</ref> Severe thunderstorms sometimes drop some very large [[hail]] over Kansas as well. Furthermore, these storms can even bring in flash flooding and damaging straight line winds.

According to NOAA, the all-time highest temperature recorded in Kansas is ({{convert|121|°F|°C|disp=or|sigfig=3}}) on July 24, 1936, near [[Alton, Kansas|Alton]] in [[Osborne County, Kansas|Osborne County]], and the all-time low is {{convert|-40|°F|°C}} on February 13, 1905, near [[Lebanon, Kansas|Lebanon]] in [[Smith County, Kansas|Smith County]]. Alton and Lebanon are approximately {{convert|50|mi|km}} apart.

Kansas's record high of {{convert|121|°F|°C|sigfig=3}} ties with [[North Dakota]] for the fifth-highest record high in an American state, behind California ({{convert|134|°F|°C|disp=or|sigfig=3}}), [[Arizona]] ({{convert|128|°F|°C|disp=or|sigfig=3}}), [[Nevada]] ({{convert|125|°F|°C|disp=or|sigfig=3}}), and [[New Mexico]] ({{convert|122|°F|°C|disp=or}}).

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"
|+ Monthly normal high and low temperatures for various Kansas cities (°F)<ref>

{{multiref2|1={{cite web |url = http://countrystudies.us/united-states/weather/kansas/concordia.htm |title = Concordia Weather—Kansas—Average Temperatures and Rainfall |website = Country Studies US |access-date = April 9, 2016 |url-status = live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20161103013842/http://countrystudies.us/united-states/weather/kansas/concordia.htm |archive-date = November 3, 2016}}|2={{cite web |url = http://countrystudies.us/united-states/weather/kansas/dodge-city.htm |title = Dodge City Weather—Kansas—Average Temperatures and Rainfall |website = Country Studies US |access-date = April 9, 2016 |url-status = live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160305011453/http://countrystudies.us/united-states/weather/kansas/dodge-city.htm |archive-date = March 5, 2016}}|3={{cite web |url = http://countrystudies.us/united-states/weather/kansas/goodland.htm |title = Goodland Weather—Kansas—Average Temperatures and Rainfall |website = Country Studies US |access-date = April 9, 2016 |url-status = live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160304202037/http://countrystudies.us/united-states/weather/kansas/goodland.htm |archive-date = March 4, 2016}}|4={{cite web |url = http://countrystudies.us/united-states/weather/kansas/topeka.htm |title = Topeka Weather—Kansas—Average Temperatures and Rainfall |website = Country Studies US |access-date = April 9, 2016 |url-status = live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160305012221/http://countrystudies.us/united-states/weather/kansas/topeka.htm |archive-date = March 5, 2016}}|5={{cite web |url = http://countrystudies.us/united-states/weather/kansas/wichita.htm |title = Wichita Weather—Kansas—Average Temperatures and Rainfall |website = Country Studies US |access-date = April 9, 2016 |url-status = live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160304221935/http://countrystudies.us/united-states/weather/kansas/wichita.htm |archive-date = March 4, 2016}}}}</ref>
|-
! City
! Jan
! Feb
! Mar
! Apr
! May
! Jun
! Jul
! Aug
! Sep
! Oct
! Nov
! Dec
|-
! Concordia
| 36/17
| 43/22
| 54/31
| 64/41
| 74/52
| 85/62
| 91/67
| 88/66
| 80/56
| 68/44
| 51/30
| 40/21
|-
! Dodge City
| 41/19
| 48/24
| 57/31
| 67/41
| 76/52
| 87/62
| 93/67
| 91/66
| 82/56
| 70/44
| 55/30
| 44/22
|-
! Goodland
| 39/16
| 45/20
| 53/26
| 63/35
| 72/46
| 84/56
| 89/61
| 87/60
| 78/50
| 66/38
| 50/25
| 41/18
|-
! Topeka
| 37/17
| 44/23
| 55/33
| 66/43
| 75/53
| 84/63
| 89/68
| 88/65
| 80/56
| 69/44
| 53/32
| 41/22
|-
! Wichita
| 40/20
| 47/25
| 57/34
| 67/44
| 76/54
| 87/64
| 93/69
| 92/68
| 82/59
| 70/47
| 55/34
| 43/24
|}