During the Cretaceous period (75 million years ago) an inland sea stretched across the Great Plains, and depositing layers of fossil soil. The sea drained with the uplift of the Black Hills and Rocky Mountains exposing the ocean mud to the air and upper layers were weathered into a yellow soil. A river flood plain followed, depositing alligator fossils and lush tropical forest material. When the forest gave away to dry savannah, different mammals roamed the plains which remains were buried under a thick layer of volcanic ash during the next epoch. The last deposits came from wind, water and more volcanic ash, making in total a 60 meter thick Paleontology heaven.
And they have an easy task, because within the boundaries of the Badlands NP, erosion has taken full force and exposes all the layers once again.
For a day I drive through the park and stop at the many view points.
And then its time to hit the real Great Plains. Straight flat roads and agriculture in a size I can hardly apprehend. Think cruise control, an IPod and 2 feet up on the seat...for hours...
Dag,
Iris (Badlands, 18453 miles)
