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Badlands National Park

"Blue Hour" And A Full Moon Over Burns Basin Overlook in Badlands National Park, South Dakota

Shades of blue, pink, and purple bathe the sky and landscape at Burns Basin Overlook in Badlands National Park.

Badlands National Park in South Dakota is dotted with many view areas. Some of these areas (like the Burns Basin Overlook) are prefect not only sunrise, but also sunset and that time just before sunrise and just after sunset, known as the "blue hour," when the sky and landscape are bathed with blue, pink, and purple. You might also see a full moon and perhaps even the atmospheric phenomenon known as the "belt of Venus."

Rebecca Latson

Bridging the Gap

Wildlife Biologist, Phil Dobesh and the Conata Basin/Badlands National Park black-footed ferret recovery implementation team have been working overtime lately, worried about the black-footed ferret population.

Photography In The National Parks: Badlands In April

One could be forgiven for thinking this is a national park you can see in an hour or so then move on along to the next big thing, because you can see so much from the road. To really get a feel for Badlands, however, you should spend at least a couple of days, if not more. This is especially true if you are a photographer loaded with cameras and gear.

Fossil Hunting With The Rangers At Badlands National Park

Badlands National Park in South Dakota is a treasure trove of fossils. Walk in any direction and you may find a fossil bone shard or tooth or seed or even a dung beetle ball (yes, seriously). If you are really lucky, you might even discover a fossil skull. But, how do you identify fossils out there when everything looks the same? And what should you do with that fossil find?

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