Okay, here are photos from Wind Cave National Park (6th longest cave system in the world), Homestake Mine/Sanford Lab in Lead (the richest gold mine in the history of the USA, now owned by the government and converted into an underground laboratory for studying sub-atomic particles without the interference of solar radiation), Minuteman National Monument (the last of the de-commissioned ICBM control center/missile silos in SD, now open for tours), Badlands National Park and the city of Wall (including Wall Drug Store, the Number 1 road-side attraction in America). It's a wide-range of images - hope you enjoy them!
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Sunrise from Terry Peak above Lead. |
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Spooky view inside Wind Cave. |
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Wind Cave is famous for its boxwork formations. |
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A cheerful tour guide :) |
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Coneflower and guest. |
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The view from Rankin Ridge Trail in Wind Cave NP. |
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Tour guide at the Homestake Mine, showing us the winch equipment that operates the elevator system to the Lab. |
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Some gallows humor on the door to the underground Control Center at Minuteman National Monument. |
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That's a very thick door! |
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Inside the Control Center - a little claustrophobic, don't you think? |
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Panorama of Badlands National Park. |
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I saw quite a few Mennonite tourists during my vacation. These girls were pretty brave to go so far out for a photo op. |
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A vigilant prairie dog on the look out. |
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Big horn sheep (except they're a female and baby, so their horns aren't so big). |
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Yellow Mounds turnout. |
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The famous Wall Drug Store which started as a small store in the middle of nowhere, but grew famous by offering free ice water and then posting advertising signs along highways all over the world. |
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Here's the ice water - I had a couple of cups! |
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Mr. T-Rex woke up every 15 minutes and scared the kiddies :) |
Great photos...who are Mennonites?
ReplyDeleteThey are similar to the Amish, but use some modern conveniences like cars and electricity.
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