South Dakota is a state found in the Midwestern part of the United States. It is a popular destination for tourists and vacationers, especially during the winter and summer season. In the winter, popular activities include, skiing, sledding, snowshoeing and snow tubing among others. During the summer, favorite activities include hiking, gliding and various water sports.

Geography of South Dakota

South Dakota is located in the North central part of the United States and is considered as a part of the Midwest. The great plain covers most of the regions of the state. South Dakota is also considered as part of the West. A river called the Missouri River stretches through the central part of the region.

South Dakota has a land area totaling up to 77,116 square miles, making it the seventeenth largest state in the union. The longest and largest river in the state is the Missouri River. Other South Dakota rivers include the James, White, Cheyenne and the Big Sioux.

South Dakota also have numerous natural lakes mostly found in the state's eastern portion. The dams along the Missouri River are results of four gigantic reservoirs. These reservoirs include Lake Sharpe, Lewis Lake, Clark Lake and Lake Oahe. However, it is also noted that the Francis Case also contributes to this.

Climate

The Climate of South Dakota is described as continental. It has four distinct seasons that would range from hot summers to very cold winters. During the summer season, the average temperature of the state is nearly ninety degrees Fahrenheit. In South Dakota, it is not that unusual to have severe hot and dry spells, especially during the summer when temperatures rise above one hundred degrees Fahrenheit.

South Dakota also has an average annual precipitation ranging from semi arid to the north western part of the state, which is around fifteen inches or equivalent to three hundred eighty one millimeters. It is common to have semi humid conditions in some parts of the southeast region of the state. That is around 25 inches or 635 millimeters. There is a tiny area centered along the Black Hills and this has the highest recorded precipitation, going up to nearly 30 inches or 762 millimeters every year.

Attractions

South Dakota is also home to several National Parks and Monuments. Their National Park Service are responsible for protecting these attractions for the sake of tourism and for future generations. It has two established National Parks, both of which are situated in the state's south western regions.

The ?Badlands National Park? was established in 1978 and features a brightly colored, highly eroded landscape surrounded by grasslands. Another attraction is the Wind Cave. It is also a National Park. It was established in the year 1903, also along the Black Hills. It contains a very extensive network as well as large herds of bison.

It is in the year 1925 when the famous ?Mount Rushmore National Memorial Park? was established. Here, you can find the four US presidents carved along the mountain, serving as an attraction and a commemorative landscape for these Presidents. The carved heads of these US presidents became very popular. In fact, commercial advertisements and several movies also featured these carvings.

Mount Rushmore National Memorial Park is now a trademark of South Dakota. Until now it is well preserved and is taken cared of the by the authorities.