Well, actually, it's "just another National Park". We had the pleasure of driving through Badlands National Park today in South Dakota. I can certainly understand why someone coming upon the 60 mile long wall of the Badlands in a wagon a hundred plus years ago would be more than a little inclined to name the area Bad Lands. But, with the advent of roads and modern conveniences, they are far more beautiful than bad.
Sediments have been deposited on the Badlands for a wee 68 million years but erosion of these wee quarter million acres into the pinnacles, spires, and buttes that decorate the land today began a scant half million years ago. Eventually, the Badlands will erode away entirely, but I suspect that point will be reached long after my lifespan has passed:
Some of the Badlands are decorated with yellow mounds lying underneath a stripe of pink icing. Rumor has it that the yellow was created by the first jungle to grow here and the pink by the second. Regardless of which jungle created which color, it's hard to believe that this land was once a lush, flourishing expanse of dense trees and tangled underbrush:
Even in this stage of their existence, the Badlands are beautiful. This time of year, with few tourists in the park, was a perfect time to not only enjoy the views but the profound quiet of this place, interrupted only by gusts of wind rustling through the dried grass.
So very beautiful, indeed. I've only flown over - it's nice to experience it vicariously at eye level.
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