Badlands National Park

As we entered “Badlands National Park” in South Dakota, we tried to imagine what it was like for those who first inhabited this area. Extreme temperatures, lack of water, and exposed rugged terrain were only a few of the reasons the Lakota people, though not the first to settle here, gave it the name “Mako Sica” or “Land Bad”. 

True to form, the Badlands appear to have not changed a great deal over the past 75 million years, give or take, at least on the day we traveled thru. It was scorching hot with dry, baked mountainous formations as far as we could see. Yet, despite the harshness of the land, we could not help but appreciate the beauty of the eroded peaks and valleys with their multitude of colors and engrained timeline in the soil. 

An added attraction, many of the animals that adapted to this environment, deer, pronghorn, bison and prairie dogs were out and about for our viewing pleasure. Fortunately, the rattle snakes kept to themselves!