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South Dakota
Most of The Traveling Morgans time in South Dakota has been spent in the scenic wonderland called The Black Hills.
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.
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.
Portions of Badlands National Park will make you think you are on another planet.
The Yellow Hills Overlook is such a place.
Other portions are teaming with wildlife. There is an active Prairie Dog Town.
The stunning scenery of the Black Hills is not easy to describe. It is easy to understand some Lakota Sioux believing the Black Hills to be where men first descended from the stars -- the Pleiades cluster to be specific. Another legend is men first emerged from Wind Cave, also in the Black Hills.
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.
The impact on the mind of the three tunnels framing Mt. Rushmore when traveling Iron Mtn Road is generally disbelief.
Mt. Rushmore is already dwarfed by the Crazy Horse Monument. All of Mt. Rushmore would fit in the head and hair of Crazy Horse with room left over.
Custer State Park is one of the largest and most diverse state parks in the country.
While better known for Bison, Pronghorn Antelope are also plentiful on the famous Wildlife Loop in Custer State Park.
The Needles Highway is another well known section of this amazing park.