WEEK 8: ACROSS AMERICA

​WEEK 8 RUN-WALK ACROSS AMERICA 2017 STARTS TOMORROW
Segment 18: Kadoka SD to Oacoma SD
Segment 19:  Oacoma SD to Mitchell SD
Segment 20: Mitchell SD to Sioux Falls SD
This is the second week spent crossing South Dakota. According to a Wikipedia entry the state can roughly be divided into three regions: Black Hills, western, and eastern. Geographically the eastern and western regions are defined by the Missouri River, which acts as a boundary dividing them. The Black Hills, traversed last week, is sufficiently distinct from the rest of western South Dakota that it can be considered separately from it.

​Take a look at the ACROSS AMERICA IN PHOTOS page for pictures that demonstrate these areas in the state.
 
The route takes you west to east, through vast grasslands to Oacoma, on to Mitchell after crossing the Mighty Missouri River, then to Sioux Falls. According to the USDA Forest Service website, the topography of the federal grassland, Fort Pierre National Grassland, includes flat to gently rolling hills with intermittent medium- to large-sized ponds. These ponds provide water for wildlife and livestock and serve as important habitats for waterfowl and popular fisheries. 

The grasslands vegetation shelters many wildlife species and native and migrating birds. Nature lovers will have a field day (pun intended) or two as the road takes them to the largest city in SD. The Nature Conservancy has a wonderful page about the grasslands, which are considered an endangered habitat, and on it links to other stories about efforts that are being made to preserve plant and animal life.
 
The city of Sioux Falls, is located on the very eastern edge of the state of South Dakota, less than 20 miles from the Minnesota state border.  It’s made famous by the cascading of the Big Sioux River over rock formations created by conditions resulting from the ice ages, according to a Wikipedia entry. The area has been sacred ground to many native peoples for centuries and is the site of burial grounds.

As you reflect on the importance of the lands you have traveled though to past inhabitants as well as modern wildlife, less solemnly you can acknowledge the very physical importance to you of having passed the west-east midway point of the trip at midweek… YAY!
 
If you are using this virtual journey as a teaching or learning tool, this week’s segment provide a perfect setting to discuss the “prairie biome”. There are online learning modules that you can check out yourself; just search these words.

The images of the grasslands are often stunningly beautiful; the scenery would be so much more enjoyable on a real run or walk as the route is relatively flat. I hope I eventually can experience the prairie in person.
 
RUN HAPPY!

Check out the ACROSS AMERICA IN PHOTOS page for images.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geography_of_South_Dakota
 
https://www.fs.fed.us/grasslands/aboutus/index.shtmlwww.fs.fed.us/grasslands/aboutus/index.shtml

http://www.nature.org/ourinitiatives/regions/northamerica/unitedstates/minnesota/explore/grasslands-minnesota-north-south-dakota.xml
 
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prairie
 
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sioux_Falls,_South_Dakota