Cavanal Hill
Template:Short description Template:Infobox mountain Cavanal Hill (officially Cavanal Mountain), located near Poteau, Oklahoma, is described by a sign at its base as the "'World's Highest Hill' – Elevation: 1,999 feet".<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The actual summit elevation is Template:Convert above sea level;<ref name=gnis/> the difference in elevation between the summit and the Poteau River Template:Convert to the north is Template:Convert.<ref>U.S. Geological Survey Poteau West 7.5 minute quadrangle</ref>
Hill / mountain
The billing is based on a delineation between a hill and a mountain, that being if the geographical feature were 2,000 feet or higher than its base. However, the United States Geographic Names Information System contains thousands of summits with "hill" in their names which are higher than 2,000 feet.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Etymology
One source claims that the name is derived from a French word meaning "cave":<ref name="TravelOK">[1] TravelOK.com Website. Retrieved September 19, 2012.</ref> Template:Wikt-lang. Oklahoma historian Muriel H. Wright wrote that cavanol is a corruption of the French word Template:Wikt-lang, meaning "cavernous."<ref name ="EOHC-Wright">Wright, Muriel H. "Some Geographic Names of French Origin in Oklahoma." Chronicles of Oklahoma. Vol.7, No. 2. June 1929. Template:Webarchive Accessed November 16, 2016.</ref>
History
Cavanal Hill was a notable landmark for French explorers who traveled this area in the 18th century and gave the landmark its name. During the late 1700s, French fur trappers established a camp at the base of Cavanal and named it Poteau, for "Post".<ref name=":0">Template:Cite book</ref> Thomas Nuttall studied plant life here in 1819, and learned about other natural wonders from local French trappers and Indians who were living here.<ref name="TravelOK"/>
During territorial times Cavanal Hill was along the border of Skullyville County and Sugar Loaf County, two of the constituent counties making up the Moshulatubbee District of the Choctaw Nation.
In the late 1800s, Walter Beard established a health resort at the summit of Cavanal Hill. This was a modest wood-frame structure that catered to visitors in the area. Besides the view, the major draw was the natural springs that occur throughout the region.
Halfway up Cavanal Hill, George Witte established the town of Witteville. This was a coal mining company town. The mines were located three miles east of the town. Witteville is still marked on some maps, and can be found at the "Y" leading up to the top of Cavanal Hill. Much of the road leading up to the top of the hill was part of the original railroad that led to Witteville.
In the 1960s, Senator Robert S. Kerr established a summer residence at the foot of Cavanal Hill. This summer house was located on the same site where Walter Beard first established his health resort.<ref name=":0" />
Recreation
Cavanal Hill is now the site of mountain bike races and the Cavanal Hill Killer 5-Mile Walk. A Template:Convert blacktopped road leads to the summit where visitors can enjoy picturesque views of the Poteau River Valley. Reportedly, one can see Mount Magazine in Arkansas from here on a clear day.<ref name="TravelOK"/>