The Badlands of South Dakota are a masterpiece created by the elements: sculpted from the earth by water and wind.

The Badlands: Nature’s Time Capsule examines:


Various images from on and off the beaten path


An interactive online tour hosted by the National Park Service


Links, lessons, and more


Interactives: Buffalo Parts

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npsscenery (2).jpg (51277 bytes)Over the ages, water and wind have carved out a bizarre and beautiful landscape east of the Black Hills. In the process, extraordinary treasures have been uncovered and exposed. The multi-colored layers of sediment in the Badlands hold clues to the evolution of the earth and its creatures.

view show


npsscenery (3).JPG (93803 bytes)There are stories hidden in the fantastic layers of sediment, from the fossils of ancient sea creatures to the remnants of mammals related to the horse and rhinoceros. The stories includes the creatures who now live in this arid landscape.

view part one


npsscenery (4).JPG (54012 bytes)People came to the area some 11,000 years ago, beginning with paleo-Indians, followed by the Arikara and the great Sioux nation. In the late 19th century, the Homesteaders arrived.
 

part 2


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Major Funding for The Badlands: Nature's Time Capsule was provided by:


Golden West Telecommunications






Friends of SDPB Endowment

npsscenery (1).jpg (80638 bytes)Today, conservation efforts continue to preserve this irreplaceable geological resource - nature’s very own time capsule.
 

part 3

Additional Funding Provided By: Wall Badlands Area Chamber of Commerce; Grossenburg Implement of Winner, Pierre & Philip, SD; South Dakota School of Mines & Technology; South Dakota Department of Tourism
wall chamber of commerce logo
grossenberg implement logo
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Thanks to:
Badlands National Park
The Museum of Geology on the campus of South Dakota School of Mines and Technology

Education resources provided by Badlands National Park