Did You Know South Dakota Is Home To One Of The Oldest National Parks In The US?
ZitatAlles anzeigenLet’s be real for a second here: South Dakota isn’t exactly the most-visited state in the country. It’s one of the northernmost spots in the nation, and all too often, it gets overlooked in favor of other more popular Midwestern states. However, this is truly a tragedy, as it means that there are an enormous amount of people out there who have never experienced what this amazing place has to offer. Take, for example, a breathtaking natural wonder located just 10 miles north of the small town of Hot Springs. This is easily one of my favorite places, and much to our (as in all of South Dakota’s) pride and joy, it’s one of the oldest National Parks in the U.S.
Upon first arrival, the park appears as stunningly beautiful, rolling prairie with endless blue skies above and countless wonders down below.
It's actually the largest natural mixed grass prairie left on the planet, and that's not all. From here, one would never guess that underneath their feet lies the very first cave to be designated a National Park in the world... and plenty of wonders within.
Wind Cave National Park was established in January of 1903 by then-president Teddy Roosevelt, who notably had a soft spot in his heart for both Dakotas.
It came as the sixth National Park in the US, and today, it's an astonishing look at the incredible processes that take place deep (and I mean DEEP) within the earth.
Well, it's currently the seventh-longest cave in the world, with 154.2 miles of known, charted passages (as of the last survey in 2021, anyway... it could easily be more by now).