Southern Indiana, in the United States, is notable because it is culturally unique. The area's geography has led to a blend of Northern and Southern culture that is not found in the rest of the state of Indiana. Culturally, there are many distinctive characteristics. Southern Indiana speech patterns gravitate toward a Southern drawl, though the accent is considerably less pronounced than in points further south in the Upland South or in the Deep South. The Roman Catholic Church has a significant presence in the region. Noteworthy Catholic institutions in Southern Indiana include St. Meinrad Archabbey, one of two Catholic archabbies/seminaries in the United States and Mount St. Francis, a large retreat center in Floyd County. Southern Indiana's topography is considerably more varied and complex than central and northern Indiana, including large tracts of forest (e.g., Hoosier National Forest), rolling fields, and a chain of low mountains/high hills (800-1,000 ft.) called the Knobstone Escarpment, or Knobs. The region also includes the oldest exposed Devonian fossil beds in the world at the Falls of the Ohio state park in Clarksville. [Less...]