Articles for tag: badlands national park, Black Hills, Landscape evolution, Natural History, South Dakota travel

Iconic Mount Rushmore National Memorial surrounded by trees on a clear summer day.

10 Surprising Facts about South Dakota’s Black Hills & Badlands

Suhail Ahmed

The Black Hills and Badlands of South Dakota often appear as a rugged postcard from America’s deep geologic past, yet scientists say these landscapes are far more dynamic—and surprising—than their stoic silhouettes suggest. For decades, researchers believed these formations were simply ancient remnants of uplift and erosion, but emerging studies reveal hidden volcanic forces, fossil ...