B A D L A N D S   N A T I O N A L   P A R K

Southwestern South Dakota

From high prairie, to the Badlands, and then to low prairie, the Badland mystical formations bisect the park's prairie topography.

Believe it or not, when Congress established Badlands National Park there was some discussion about changing its name. They felt no one would visit the area if it was named "Badlands." Some genius thought the name of "Wonderland" was more appropriate. Fortunately clearer heads prevailed and the name wasn't changed. What a stupid name "Wonderland" would have been.

Looming off in the distance, this formation appears to be the tallest of the day. Upon closer inspection it proves to be quite lofty and interesting.

White River can be seen flowing off into the distance. Over the millennium, the White River was responsible for laying down all the sediment as a result of the formation of the Rocky Mountains to the west. At that time there was a huge, continental lake that slowly drained to the east as a result of the rising Rockies. Since then, the White River has played a reverse role, carrying away all the sediment that slowly washes out of the region when it rains and hence, forming the Badlands as we know them today.