South Dakota - there is much to see

Driving through middle America’s Illinois, Wisconsin and Minnesota is a long way and pretty dull.  The countryside is verdant and pretty but there is very little that is scenically exciting.  When you arrive in South Dakota all that changes.  

Sioux Falls is the first city you come to as you cross the border from the long drive across Minnesota. Another city with a wonderful waterfall in the middle. The bedrock is quarzite (jasper).

Next on our journey across South Dakota was the Badlands National Park.  The Badlands’ unusual rock formations reminded us of a combination of Utah, Cappadoccia in Turkey and the Bungle Bungles in OZ. 

Though seemingly inhospitable at first glance, the Badlands have supported humans for more than 11,000 years.  The ancient mammoth hunters were the first.  By the mid 18^th century they were replaced by the Sioux/Lakota, who adopted the use of horses from the Spaniards and came to dominate the region for 100 years.  Their way of life depended on bison hunting but the bison were eliminated by the arrival of non-Indian buffalo hunters.  After 40 years of struggle culminating in the Wounded Knee Massacre in 1890 the Lakota were confined to reservations.  Only their paintings, drawings and artistic crafts remain as tangible memories of their lost homelands and natural environment. 

Lookouts and vistas over the geological wonders abound on the Highway 240 loop road going through the Badlands National Park.  You can drive through in an hour if you are in a hurry but we spent a whole day and two nights there.  We stayed first at Cedar Park campground (above) with hot showers for $19 and then at Sage Creek campground (below) for free.  Both were delightful places with wonderful views and ambiance.