TravelingMorgans.Com

Missouri River

The Missouri River flows from the border with North Dakota through the center of the state, essentially cutting South Dakota into two parts.

Based on this, those who live in South Dakota often refer to themselves as "East River" or "West River".

There is a lot to the designation. When you cross the Missouri River from the east, such as the picture below of the I-90 bridge, you are leaving the East behind and crossing into the American West.

The weather is different, the attitudes are different, the land is different, and the rainfall is much less -- leading to different land usage.

Bad Lands NP

Portions of Badlands National Park will make you think you are on another planet.

The Yellow Hills Overlook (right) is such a place..

Other portions are teaming with wildlife.

There is an active Prairie Dog Town (left).

Black Hills

The stunning scenery of the Black Hills is not easy to describe. It is easy to understand the Lakota Sioux believing the Black Hills to be where men first descended from the stars -- the Pleides cluster to be specific.

The Black Hills is known for human attempts to create stunning scenery. Most people consider these attempts to be quite successful. Here are some examples.

The largest completed sculpture in the United States is Mt Rushmore.

Mt. Rushmore is already dwarfed by the Crazy Horse Monument (right). All of Mt. Rushmore would fit in the forehead of Crazy Horse.

The impact on the mind of three tunnels framing Mt. Rushmore (left) when traveling Iron Mtn Road is generally disbelief.

Custer State Park

While better known for Bison, the Pronghorn Antelope (left) is also plentiful on the famous Wildlife Loop in Custer State Park.

The Needles Highway(right) is another well known section of this amazing park.

Custer State Park is one of the largest and most diverse state parks in the country.