Forty-four years ago today, a rugged, inhospitable area of South Dakota was designated a national park to protect the many fossils found there. The region has a 12,000-year history as hunting grounds for Native Americans. In fact, the name we know it by today, Badlands, comes from the Lakota phrase "mako sica," which literally translates to "bad lands." Covering nearly 380 square miles, its harshly eroded rock formations make it one of the most distinct landscapes in the United States.
Badlands National Park turns 44
Today in History
More Desktop Wallpapers:
-
Hut, hut, hike!
-
International Day of the Worlds Indigenous Peoples
-
Plitvice Lakes National Park, Croatia
-
We heart Berlin
-
Sunbeams across Tartu County, Estonia
-
International Tiger Day
-
Celebrating World Wildlife Day
-
The most wonderful day of the year. Period.
-
A hint of spring
-
Installation art turns heads
-
Winter in the Finnish wilds
-
Celebrating Charles Darwin
-
Bird s-eye view on World Environment Day
-
A sleeping green giant
-
Pamukkale, Turkey
-
Where fire meets water
-
A day for the dolphins
-
An ancient sailing tradition takes to the water
-
A look at Uranus, seventh planet from the sun
-
On the hunt
-
Maya site of Copán
-
National Park Week: Everglades National Park
-
Castle Stalker, Argyll, Scotland
-
Who doesn’t love a ‘Puppy’?
-
The buzz about bees
-
Baddest of the badlands
-
Long-eared owl in the Czech Republic
-
Victory in Europe, 75 years ago
-
Lake Tai s cherry trees in bloom
-
National Lighthouse Day
Bing Wallpaper Gallery

