Best Things to do in South Dakota
South Dakota is known as “the land of infinite variety” or “land of the plenty.”
The variety bases on its ever-changing climate, and the plentifulness derives from its richness in its sceneries and abundance in its economy.
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The word “Dakota” originated from a Native American Sioux word that means roughly “friendly” or “allies.”
A quick look at its location: North Dakota borders South Dakota in the north, Minnesota and Iowa in the east, Nebraska in the south, and Wyoming and Montana in the west.
One of Dakota’s highlights is that it has the highest point in the United States east of the Rocky Mountains.
It’s a range of mountains that includes the 7,242-foot Black Elk Peak, the state’s highest point. It’s found on the “Black Hills” and is on the southwest of the state.
South Dakota’s sceneries involve vast prairies and productive farmlands. Hence, ranchlands are a common thing. Simultaneously, in eastern South Dakota, you can find mostly are icy lakes as the area has more humidity than the western half of the state.
Missouri River runs through the central and southeastern parts of the state, dividing it.
Weather
Even with its division on its climate, South Dakota has four seasons: spring with rain showers, summer with momentary humidity, falls with cool evenings, and winters varying from mild to extreme.
But its ever-changing seasons don’t hamper the state’s economy. South Dakota has a solid agricultural base and one of the largest in the industry.
Economy
From time to time, South Dakota ranks among the top 10 states to produce hay, sunflowers, rye, honey, soybeans, corn, wheat, and cattle.
Mining is one of the important economic factors in South Dakota. The state was one of the country’s top spots for gold until 2001. Nowadays, construction materials such as limestone, granite, sand, and gravel are now its most-mined resources.
South Dakota’s tourism is also a considerable contributor to its booming economy, bringing about $2 billion annually.
Landmarks
One of the famous landmarks globally is Mount Rushmore National Memorial, a sculpture that was carved into the side of a granite mountain in the Black Hills between 1927 and 1941.
The mountain sculpture features the faces of four U.S. presidents: George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln. The entire project took only 14 years and less than $1 million to complete to drive tourism to the remote area.
Another drive to its tourism is the Badlands, one of the richest fossil beds on Earth. It’s a famous location where explorers have found remains of saber-toothed cats, three-toed horses, and marine animals from an ancient sea. This is considered one of the best national parks in America.
South Dakota lives up to its name up until today because of its landmark through the perseverance of its people in maintaining its beauty and the strength of its economy.
If you’re traveling and have a chance to go here, don’t miss out on the experience and enjoy the diverse sights in “the land of infinite variety”.
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