South Dakota

SOUTH DAKOTA, the "Sunshine State," is one of the North Central States of the American Union. It is rectangular in shape with an average length (east-west) of 38o m. and an average width (north-south) of about 200 miles.

Its area is 77,615 sq.m., of which 747 sq.m. are water surface. South Dakota formed the southern half of the original Dakota Territory, organized in 1861 and named after the Dakota Indians which inhabited the land. The Territory was divided into North Dakota and South Dakota by the enabling act of Feb. 22, 1889.

Physiography.

With the exception of the Black Hills dis trict in the south-west, the State is a broad, wide rolling plain, ranging from level river valleys in the east to irregular plateaux broken by buttes and scored by canons in the west.

In the cxtreme north-east there is a range of low hills known as the Coteau des Prairies, which crosses the State in a south-south east direction, forming the divide between the headwaters of the Minnesota river on the east and the James river on the west. The greater part of the James river valley lies in the bed of the extinct Lake Dakota, which was once a very narrow body of water. West of the James river valley lies an elevated table land, known as the Coteau du Missouri, which marks the water parting between the James and the Missouri rivers.

The Bad Lands.

In the south-west extreme results of erosion are seen in an accentuated form in the region between the White river and the South Fork of the Cheyenne river, known as the Bad Lands or terres inauvaises. This area extends from the foist meridian up the White river for about 120 m. and varies in width from 3o to 5o miles. The most prominent features of the land scape rise from 150 to 30o ft. above the valleys; the latter and the flat tops of the mesas are sometimes covered with a scanty soil and a sparse growth of grass. The Bad Lands of the White river are noted for their wealth of animal fossils.

The Black Hills.

North-west of the Bad Lands of the White river lie the Black Hills (q.v.), an irregular dome-shaped uplift,

about 125 m. long and 6o m. wide, lying partly in Wyoming, and with the main axis trending almost north-west and south-east. The main mass of limestone and crystalline rocks have in general a height of 4,000 or 5,000 ft. above the sea—some ridges and peaks rise higher. Cathedral park in the southern portion, Spear fish canon in the north and the extensive fossil forest at the foot of Mattie's peak are noteworthy; while the Crystal cave, near Piedmont, and the Wind cave, near Hot Springs, are famous.

Drainage.

With the exception of the extreme north-east, the State lies within the drainage system of the Missouri, with its tributaries the Big Sioux, the James, the Grand, Moreau or Owl, Cheyenne and White rivers.

The Minnesota river has its source in the north-east, and the Big Stone lake, a body of water about 25 m. long and 3 m. wide, forms a connecting link between its headwaters and the rest of the stream. North of this lake lies Lake Traverse, 27 m. long and 3 m. wide, whose waters flow north into the Bois de Sioux river, whence they flow into the Red river (of the North). The portion of South Dakota east of the Missouri river is dotted with numerous shallow lakes, ranging from small ponds to bodies of water from r o to 15 m. in diameter.

Forests.

The total woodland area has been estimated at 2,50o sq.m., about 3.25% of the land area, and of this amount 2,000 sq.m. are in the Black Hills district. All the higher lands of this area are covered by forests consisting mainly of yellow pine, but spruce, aspen, white birch, bur oak, box-elder, red cedar, white elm and cottonwood are among the other varieties found. In the more arid regions the sagebrush and cactus make their appear ance. Harney national forest lying mainly within the State, and Custer and Black Hills national forests lying partly within the State, have an area in South Dakota of 1,066,622 ac.