Those who have already been out west know that one of the biggest differences from the east is how immense the sky is. There is no describing how beautiful the landscape is out here.
According to the visitor center, the grasslands Joy is standing on once covered 1/3 of the US. Easier to understand now how the plains indians didn't grasp the white man's idea that land could be owned.
The Badlands were an ancient seabed that began eroding after the continent raised up in that area.
Here's a spot on the edge of the grassland where the erosion has begun.
The seabed layers are reflected in the eroded areas. Though our pictures fail to capture the spectacular colors of the layers, this picture shows some. Apparently paleontology got its start (or a big boost) here in 1846 when a fossil jaw was discovered here and reported in The American Journal of Science and Arts. The yellow rock layers were found to contain fossils of vertibrates. The lower layer contains fossils of ancient sealife.
Looks like good times. Sounds like they should rename the Badlands.
ReplyDeleteHow long until It's a sea again ?
Oh my goodness, that is just amazingly beautiful. Of course, the blue sky confused me for a minute. We haven't seen that in so long I'd forgotten it happened.
ReplyDeleteSeeing some real history along with some unbelievable sights. From the itenary you set up you both could start a side business; as usual a great deal of research went into this adventure.
ReplyDeleteEnjoy