These phenomena in South Dakota prove that this state is anything but boring. You won’t believe these are possible, let alone in SD. Have you seen them all?
- Cosmos Mystery Area
Shelby Bell / Flickr Visiting the Cosmos will have your head spinning. This gravity defying attraction will keep you guessing and your kids thoroughly entertained. One especially mind-boggling feature is where you and a friend are able to stand facing each other, then switch spots, only to find that now you both appear to be different heights. You have to see it to believe it!
- The rock formations of Needles Highway
Jerry and Pat Donaho / Flickr These protruding rock formations stand beautifully as a part of South Dakota’s landscape. Have you ever thought about how they were created?
- The Stratobowl
Kathy KJ Deml / Facebook Near Rapid City, this expanse of green grass looks truly odd in the midst of all those trees. It’s a bit baffling!
- Bear Butte geological formation
Cheyenne Griffin / Facebook This unique butte seems to stand alone in the midst of the flat area surrounding it. It’s named for its striking similarity in shape to a bear lying on its back.
- The mysterious Burning Bluffs
Missouri River Imagery / Facebook Contrary to what it looks like, these bluffs are not actually on fire. The smoke rising from them comes from a chemical reaction where water meets shale. They aren’t as commonly seen as they once were but if you are lucky, you can still catch a glimpse on the Missouri River near Winner.
- Sun dogs
Bev Currie / Flickr Sun dogs are those glowing rainbow spots you occasionally see around the sun. Though rare, sometimes they form a complete circle around the sun!
- Tornadoes
NOAA Photo Library / Flickr Though we hear about tornadoes relatively often, have you ever thought about how bizarre it is that these destructive phenomena are created simply by changes in the weather?
- Spook Road
Christian Guthier / Flickr There are a few legends about “Spook Road” in South Dakota. Some say this road has a certain number of intersections if you drive one direction and a different number if you are driving the other direction. What version of the spook road legend have you heard?
- All the nice people
USDA NRCS South Dakota / Flickr How can there be so many nice people in one place?! I don’t know, but I am proud to call South Dakota home.
What other unexplained natural phenomena in South Dakota have you baffled?
Shelby Bell / Flickr
Visiting the Cosmos will have your head spinning. This gravity defying attraction will keep you guessing and your kids thoroughly entertained. One especially mind-boggling feature is where you and a friend are able to stand facing each other, then switch spots, only to find that now you both appear to be different heights. You have to see it to believe it!
Jerry and Pat Donaho / Flickr
These protruding rock formations stand beautifully as a part of South Dakota’s landscape. Have you ever thought about how they were created?
Kathy KJ Deml / Facebook
Near Rapid City, this expanse of green grass looks truly odd in the midst of all those trees. It’s a bit baffling!
Cheyenne Griffin / Facebook
This unique butte seems to stand alone in the midst of the flat area surrounding it. It’s named for its striking similarity in shape to a bear lying on its back.
Missouri River Imagery / Facebook
Contrary to what it looks like, these bluffs are not actually on fire. The smoke rising from them comes from a chemical reaction where water meets shale. They aren’t as commonly seen as they once were but if you are lucky, you can still catch a glimpse on the Missouri River near Winner.
Bev Currie / Flickr
Sun dogs are those glowing rainbow spots you occasionally see around the sun. Though rare, sometimes they form a complete circle around the sun!
NOAA Photo Library / Flickr
Though we hear about tornadoes relatively often, have you ever thought about how bizarre it is that these destructive phenomena are created simply by changes in the weather?
Christian Guthier / Flickr
There are a few legends about “Spook Road” in South Dakota. Some say this road has a certain number of intersections if you drive one direction and a different number if you are driving the other direction. What version of the spook road legend have you heard?
USDA NRCS South Dakota / Flickr
How can there be so many nice people in one place?! I don’t know, but I am proud to call South Dakota home.
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