South Dakota

South Dakota is a sparsely populated state rich with Native American culture and unusual natural features. Its most popular attractions are the Badlands and the Black Hills. Both areas are natural wonders, with landscapes that are found nowhere else in the country.

The Badlands area offers one of the most extraordinary natural landscapes in America. This crumbling, colorful terrain was created when the salt water seas covering the Great Plains receded to form dry land. The silt and fossil remains washed out and dried over the area, which was then covered by volcanic ash. Over the last few million years, the ash has eroded, revealing the colorful ground underneath. The French translated the Sioux name for the area, which means "bad lands." It has also been called "hell with the fires out." Badlands National Park, about one-tenth of the total land area, covers the most stunning part. Visitors can take in this unique landscape on foot or behind the wheel of a car.

The green pine trees covering the hills, which appear dark from a distance, gave the Black Hills region its name. This vast area is the most popular destination in South Dakota and features a number of different sites. Mt. Rushmore and the Crazy Horse Monument are enormous sculptures carved into the sheer rock face of mountains. Custer State Park is filled with mountains and lakes, making it a great destination for fishing trips. Wind Cave is a huge underground network of caves and tunnels with spectacular rock formations. Hot Springs is a more relaxed locale, with naturally heated mineral waters rumored to have healing powers.