Forest Facts: The Forest is the largest single ownership of forest land in Missouri. It represents approximately 3.3 percent of total land in the state and 10 percent of the forest land. In 1997, the Mark Twain produced approximately 47 million board feet of timber, 10 percent of the total in Missouri.

The Viburnum Trend, the premier area for U.S. lead mining and milling, produces about 90 percent of the nation's annual lead ore production. Over 50 percent of this comes from federally-owned minerals on the Forest.

Large populations of wildlife, including wild turkey, white-tailed deer, squirrel and rabbit attract and entertain many visitors.

People living in the 29 counties with National Forest land benefit from both Forest resources and from visitors' dollars. Resource benefits from the Mark Twain are important statewide.