Southeast Missouri Lead District and Exploitation of Natural Resources

physical terrain: Some 150 years ago, the area boomed alongside its lead mines, an exploitation of natural resources that altered economic fortunes as well as the physical terrain, according to MSNBC. A particularly plentiful subdistrict now known as the Old Lead Belt thrived. Louis sits the Southeast Missouri Lead District, home to the largest lead deposits in the world. Today, that landscape looks vastly different. Environmental and health hazards loom large over a community that both proud and wary of its heritage as a major supplier of the world lead. Once-prosperous communities have declined, mines have closed and moved elsewhere. (news.financializer.com). As reported in the news.