The Ouachita Mountain Range, located throughout southeastern Oklahoma, is characterized by rolling, rocky terrain and pine-covered hills. The mountains were originally home to the Ouachita Tribe and received their name from the Choctaw language 'ouac' meaning buffalo and 'chito' meaning large. Therefore, the mountains are described as the home of large buffalo, which used to roam the area. The Ouachitas were once a mountain range that rivaled the present-day Rocky Mountains. The Ouachitas were located below sea level until about 300 million years ago when the range emerged. Unlike the majority of other mountain ranges in the United States, the Ouachita Mountains run east and west instead of north and south. The mountain range is home to the Ouachita National Forest and Talimena Scenic Byway.