Badlands National Park
Badlands National Park located in southwest South Dakota was first established as Badlands National Monument in 1929. Badlands became a national park in 1978.
Badlands National Park containing over 242,000 acres marked by rugged terrain and rock formations resembling landscapes on the moon. Over millions of years the wind and water have eroded the landscape of Badlands National Park creating jagged spires, towering pinnacles and rocky buttes. This amazing beauty is part of the charm of Badlands National Park. Badlands National Park is one of the United States’ largest protected mixed grass prairies. Badlands National Park is home to the American bison, bighorn sheep, coyote, prairie dog, mule deer, antelope, swift fox, wild turkey and is also a sanctuary for the black-footed ferret, one of the most endangered mammals in North America
Badlands National Park also contains the remains of many prehistoric animals. Fossils of prehistoric horses, deer, and saber-toothed cats have been found in the national park. Badlands National Park is a paleontologist’s dream.
Nearly half of Badlands National Park is contained within the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. There are several sacred Oglala Lakota sites that are found in this national park. As a result both the National Park Service and the Sioux tribe co-manage the part of Badlands National Park known as the South Unit.
National Parks Worldwide 