North Dakota is situated in the wild northern Great Plains of the upper interior Midwest of the United States. Together with neighboring South Dakota, Montana, and Wyoming, it comprises the four states with the lowest population density in the contiguous United States, with only the giant, far northern state of Alaska being lower. Each of these are some of the last territories to finally achieve statehood. Interestingly, it is unknown which of North Dakota and South Dakota was admitted to the Union first. The papers declaring statehood for each were shuffled by U.S. President Benjamin Harrison before signing them, so traditionally they are placed in alphabetical order with North Dakota being declared the 39th state and South Dakota being declared the 40th state. The Wild Images Team has visited both Dakotas and the surrounding states on many occasions. We have stayed within and explored all sections of North Dakota. Being part of the Great Plains, North Dakota is dominated by rolling prairies through the majority of its area. But as you make you way across the state from east to west, the landscape begins to change into a more wild and colorfully rugged area. These are the North Dakota Badlands, some of the most scenic in the world, home to the rare yellow colored badlands that are the subject of this colorfully stunning badlands photo available for sale in our store. Much of the North Dakota Badlands are located within the three separate sections comprising the Theodore Roosevelt National Park. In this sparsely populated region, herds of wild animals roam freely about, often following the narrow grassland valleys carved through the surrounding landscape by millennia of precipitation. An earlier blog post detailed this herd of bison grazing in the grasslands below the surrounding rugged badlands peaks. Sometimes the animal herds will climb to the top of the less dramatic peaks in search of fresh grasslands, such as what occurred when we captured this beautiful image of wild horses gathered together in a tight cluster on a hilltop, also available for sale in our store. The above photo was taken in one section of the Theodore Roosevelt National Park, and details the continuing geological process of badlands formation. At the top of the ridge stands a typical badlands peak, almost always distinguished as being very steep-sided, carved vertically down all sides by deep fissures formed by erosive runoff, streaked horizontally with colorful bands of many exposed layers of soil that were laid down several millions of years ago, and almost always completely devoid of vegetation. The surrounding ridges, with a much less dramatic profile, allow vegetation to take root on the more gentle slopes. Close inspection of the above image will reveal further geological processes taking place. Just below the fully formed badlands peak, and slightly to the left, is a series of horizontal bands that themselves are almost completely devoid of vegetation due to their steep sides and vertical runoff fissures. This is another badlands peak slowly being carved out of the grasslands. Over thousands of years, the fissure covered bands will be carved further inward, rendering the landscape to steep to allow vegetation to root, and the bands of vegetation that currently exist will disappear, leaving yet another steep yellow banded peak towering above the grasslands. To its right is yet another peak that is an earlier stage of formation. While some hints of bands can be seen, they are not nearly as steep, nor as prominent. Furthermore, the red rock and soil capping it will eventually itself erode away further before itself becomes a badlands peak. The shallow gully that currently separates the two will likely become much deeper as these evolve further. The back ridge also appears to show some hints of other badlands mound formation, such that eventually this scene will become a collection of bare badlands mounds separated by deep channels where the little amount of vegetation may grow, with the central peak likely retaining its status as the highest point around. It stands to reason with all of this ongoing formation that the North Dakota Badlands will be around for a very long time, albeit in an ever-changing state. The Wild Images Team has captured many other images from North Dakota such as the contrast created by the horizontal color bands cross through yellow badlands and the entire herd as a group of wild horses cluster together on a hilltop, each of which are available for sale in our store. Blog posts from North Dakota have documented the herd of bison grazing in the grasslands and the ever changing colorful badland mound that caps a rolling ridge. In neighboring South Dakota, The Wild Images Team has captured images such as the bright flash of a colorful lightning strike over the badlands, the moment that a pronghorn displays its phenomenal physique, and the time that a massive bison bull came meandering past, each of which are available for sale in our store. Blog posts from South Dakota have documented the centuries long carving of the massive Crazy Horse Monument, the very majestic Mount Rushmore and the Avenue of Flags, the expansive view as wild burros walk through the rolling prairies, the ever wary prairie dog stands at attention in the prairie, the amazing location of the granite roadways through Custer State Park, when The Wild Images Team encountered a remote end of trail sign in the middle of nowhere, this close up image of textures in a colorful badlands mound, the interesting time when a flock of turkeys photobombed our image, and The Wild Images Team sunset shadows over Badlands National Park. In neighboring Wyoming, The Wild Images Team has captured images such as the contrast found in the colorful grasslands and background Grand Teton National Park peaks, the varying landscape of Grand Teton National Park rocky peaks and clouds, the large antlers on display as an elk takes a look back in the Caribou-Targhee National Forest, the vertical abruptness as Devils Tower rises above the red rocks and green pines, and the many hues found as the colorful badlands cover over this very remote region, each of which are available for sale in our store. Blog posts from Wyoming have documented as the rugged snowy peaks rise above wildflowers, and as The Wild Images Team Travel Gnome poses for a picture at the Meeteetse “Where Chiefs Meet” welcome sign. In neighboring Montana, The Wild Images Team has captured images such as a group of white mountain goats as they graze the highlands, an expansive view of rocky ridges extending to the horizon, the colorfully massive wall of Hidden Lake, high altitude view of tundra and glacial lakes, a very remote reflective alpine lake covered with rocks, and an ominously approaching heavy downpour over the green foothills, all of which are available for sale in our store. Blog posts from Montana have documented the very deep blue waters of McDonald Creek and the panoramic view of The Wild Images Team at Hidden Lake.
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