Badlands National Park, South Dakota
The Badlands National Park in South Dakota is one of the state’s natural highlights. Deep canyons, impressive rock pinnacles and rugged mountains characterize the landscape of the park. For millions of years, rain, frost and other weather conditions created a vast weathered landscape that today offers great photo opportunities.
- Timedictionary: Offers a list of largest cities in South Dakota.
Today the sharp mountain ridges, steep-walled canyons and small table mountains shine in red, orange, yellow, brown and gray colors. The characteristic colors in Badlands National Park come from the horizontal layers of clay, sand, gravel and slate, which discolored under the strong sun. In the past there was a rich fauna in the region and the Badlands offered prehistoric horses, sheep, rhinos and other animals a habitat, which was proven by the many fossil finds. But even today there are over 37 species of mammals, such as. B. the prairie dog or a bison herd, which have their home here.
On the approximately 50 km long road through the Badlands National Park you can reach many viewpoints and walks through the hills and valleys of the park. Also plan a stop at the Ben Reifel Visitor Center. Exciting exhibitions await you, which will bring you closer to the long and fascinating history of the park.
Highlights in the Badlands National Park
- Ben Reifel Visitor Center
Very informative visitor center, which in addition to exhibitions also offers a camping site nearby and a center for preparing fossils. - Hiking trails
Numerous hiking trails let you experience the beauty of the barren landscape on foot. Discover the exciting flora and fauna as well as ancient fossils. - Night Sky Observation
The special magic of this place unfolds at night. No light sources disturb the view of the starry sky.
Facts & Figures
Foundation: 1939
Area: 982.4 km²
Visitors: approx. 870,000
- Transporthint: Overview of South Dakota, including population, history, geography and major industries.
Sioux Falls, South Dakota
Sioux Falls in southeastern South Dakota is the state’s largest city. The main attraction of the 160,000-inhabitant city is certainly the eponymous waterfalls of the Big Sioux River. Since the city was founded in 1856, they have been of great importance both for local industry and for recreational purposes. In the fascinatingly designed Falls Park you will not only see the impressive waterfalls, but also some of the first buildings of Sioux Falls.
Other attractions include the huge St. Joseph Cathedral and the Sculpture Walk, which shows exceptional art on the street. Another highlight is the Sertoma Butterfly House & Marine Cove. While you can look at baby sharks, stingrays and sea cucumbers and sometimes even touch them, the lavishly designed butterfly house with countless species and warm temperatures is waiting for you. Sioux Falls also offers first-class shopping and numerous excellent restaurants and bars.
Highlights in Sioux Falls
- Falls Park
The most famous place in Sioux Falls is the famous waterfalls. There are also a few buildings on the banks that date back to the city’s founding. - Sertoma Butterfly House & Marine Cove
Marvel at the colorful butterflies in the air and the fish in the water. It is also the only pool in the Midwest where you can touch stingrays and sharks. - Washington Pavilion
Experience art exhibitions, musicals, science and more at the Wahington Pavilion. - Great Plains Zoo & Delbridge Museum
Get up close to tigers, zebras and more in this zoo. In the attached natural history museum you can learn more about the flora and fauna of the earth.
Facts & Figures
Foundation: 1876
Population: approx.153,000
Area: 190 km²
Height: 448 m
Mount Rushmore National Memorial
Mount Rushmore National Memorial, a national memorial in the United States that displays the portraits of US Presidents George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, and Theodore Roosevelt carved into Mount Rushmore in the Black Hills, South Dakota. The 20 m high portraits were made by Gutzon Borglum and 400 workers 1927-41.
Ogallala Aquifer
Ogallala Aquifer, a groundwater reservoir in the western prairies of the United States, from South Dakota in the north to Texas in the south. The reservoir, which is assumed to hold 3600 km 3 of water (2005), has been used in agriculture since the 1940s and made it possible to expand the irrigated area by 95,000 km2. Pga. overexploitation (falling groundwater table, empty boreholes) are these areas in Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska from the late 1970s shrank sharply.
