Spearfish Canyon
Southwestern South Dakota |
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Sculptures |
Geologic and natural history |
Mountains |
Caves |
Forests and wildernesses |
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Lakes |
Scenic byways |
Historic sites |
Spearfish Canyon is a deep but narrow
Natural history
Approximately 600 million years ago in the Precambrian, the area was covered by a sea. As waters subsided and land masses began to appear 60 to 30 million years ago (between the Paleocene and Oligocene epochs), drainages such as Spearfish Canyon formed as softer rock was eroded away. Today, a National Scenic Byway, U.S. Highway 14A, winds through the canyon. This area is truly a crossroads, and trees and plants from Rocky Mountains, eastern woodlands, northern forests, and the Great Plains areas can be found here.
Flora and fauna
Of the 1,585 plant species found in South Dakota, 1,260 species are in the Black Hills, many of which can be found in Spearfish Canyon.
Geology
It is often studied by geologists due to the extreme old age of the Precambrian rocks exposed by the creek bed. The canyon's high walls are of three dominant rock types. The
See also
- Roughlock Falls Nature Area
- Homestake Mine (South Dakota)
- Black Hills Gold Rush
- Peter Norbeck Scenic Byway
External links
- Basic information and pictures of Spearfish Canyon and tourism info
- Geologic information and pictures of Spearfish Canyon
- Information about the Scenic Byway
- Black Hills National Forest (official site)
44°28′39″N 103°51′01″W / 44.47750°N 103.85020°W