<Tr> <Td_colspan="2"> Map of the Flint Hills ecoregion </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td_colspan="2"> Website: Flint Hills Website </Td> </Tr> <P> The Flint Hills historically known as Bluestem Pastures or Blue Stem Hills, is a region in eastern Kansas and north - central Oklahoma named for the abundant residual flint eroded from the bedrock that lies near or at the surface . It consists of a band of hills stretching from Kansas to Oklahoma, extending from Marshall and Washington counties in the north to Cowley County, Kansas and Kay and Osage counties in Oklahoma in the south, to Geary and Shawnee counties west to east . Oklahomans generally refer to the same geologic formation as the Osage Hills or "The Osage ." </P> <P> The Flint Hills Ecoregion is designated as a distinct region because it has the most dense coverage of intact tallgrass prairie in North America . Due to its rocky soil, the early settlers were unable to plow the area, resulting in the predominance of cattle ranches, which are in turn largely benefited by the tallgrass prairie . </P>

Where are the flint hills located in kansas