The Badlands National Park

Managed by the National Park Service, the Badlands is the largest pristine mixed grass area in the United States.  The area also forms a natural boundary between what is referred to as upper and lower prairies.  The main separation is call "The Wall" which can be seen in  the first two photos below.

This area is also a popular site with  professional and amateur archeologist. Because of the soft sandstone and the  fact that this area was previously a marsh area popular with prehistoric animals there are many fossils to be found in the hills.  The Park Service has a program that records all reported fossil discoveries giving location and the name of the discoverer.

To the south of this park is the site of the "Wounded Knee Massacre" a less than proud moment in  the expansion of the United States to the west.

"The Wall"

There are trails marked for visitors to explore among the spires and spikes of the park.

The upper prairie

The lower paririe

The sedimentary nature of the spikes is visible as the lighter areas on these hills.

The nature of the erosion that formed this area is demonstrated by the leakage through the boards in this walkway.  The soft sandstone gives way to the rainwater while the protected areas remain.

The rounded nature of these capstones documents the wearing effects of winds and blowing sand.

Another example showing the various sedimentary levels of the hills in this area. The lowest level in this hillside was deposited here over 50 million years ago. Erosion by the Cheyenne River, accompanied with rain and freezing water, has exposed these levels.

A view of the lower prairie from the upper. 

Mountain goats roam throughout the park

Different minerals contribute to the colorful nature of the Badlands

Early settlers who arrived here in the spring and summer must have certainly felt like they had found the promised land. ...Until Winter came.