geography south state located north central united_states usually considered region country state generally divided geographic regions eastern western lower elevation higher precipitation western state low isolated mountain group southwestern corner state smaller sub regions state include missouri till plains formations range age billion year old granite glacial till deposited million years 17th largest state country humid continental climate east semi arid climate west outside featuring distinct seasons ecology state features plant animal species typical north american temperate grassland number areas protection federal state government located state population estimated state ranks fifth lowest total population population density united_states population largest city state ranks second largest city state capital historically agricultural state service tourism sectors grown economic importance recent years location size situated north central united_states considered midwest great plains region covers state additionally culture economy geography western common west midwest state total land area miles km2 making 17th largest union bordered north south nebraska east iowa minnesota west wyoming montana western border north south line set certain distance washington separate montana wyoming transition time zones cover state split roughly half east west boundary zones runs south point boundary roughly continues south river turns southeast north american continental pole located nearest coastline allen pole north_america regions generally divided regions eastern western missouri river serves somewhat stark boundary terms geographic social political differences eastern western geography differs surroundings extent considered separate rest western south times combine rest western refer resulting regions divided missouri generally features lower topography western state smaller geographic regions area include till plains des higher region bordered east west numerous glacial lakes cover largely drained tributary missouri west low flat highly eroded land following flow north south till plains area rolling hills fertile soil covers iowa nebraska extends southeastern corner missouri lies drift prairie region southern section large plateau extending canada great plains cover western thirds west missouri river landscape rugged consists rolling hills plains steep flat topped hills called rise feet plains south east lie south southwestern extend wyoming range low mountains covers miles km2 mountains rise feet bases highest point sea level highest point united_states east rocky_mountains mountains elevation include tower rich minerals gold silver copper lead largest deepest gold north_america located produced billion gold started operation scientific laboratory geology formations deposits range age billion thousand years age rocks generally decreases moves west east state oldest formations state created billion years ago consist rocks form central core found isolated locations eastern near formations form outer ring created roughly million years ago area features rocks limestone deposited area formed shoreline ancient inland sea outside western features rock formed million million years ago time western central covered shallow inland sea marine skeletons ocean settled form rocks area today period pushed elevation feet lost feet worth rock layers erosion sediments ended area marine deposits inland sea contribute western present day geological makeup areas western deposits found formed million years ago eroded mountains west volcanic material deposited presumably came area layers rock distinctly visible multi colored rocks cliffs layers deposited pleistocene starting million years ago cover eastern youngest rock sediment layers state product successive periods deposited large rocks soil known till area thickness glacial till layer ranges feet till makes agriculture prevalent eastern extremely fertile human history shaped geology gold founded larger cities important economic activity areas eastern mines present day produce gold granite sand gravel limestone state produces limited oil natural gas rivers lakes largest longest river state major rivers include james white essentially rivers dams missouri river create large lake lake lewis generated power plants dams provides approximately half electricity south vast majority natural lakes located eastern half state product recent ice age title largest natural lake somewhat disputed larger lake maintained current size longer period time major natural lakes include lake additionally large lakes lake traverse form border minnesota continental divide separating drainage basin gulf_of_mexico situated lakes ecology notable exception dominated temperate grasses crops cover region deciduous trees common near rivers shelter belts open areas plains grasses western big little thrive mammals area include deer prairie dogs reptiles include snapping turtle box turtle types snakes prairie snake rivers lakes support populations pike bass species contains pre historic salmon native pacific_northwest successfully introduced lake tall grass state highest precipitation southeastern foot foot grasses herbs low shrubs region plenty common spring floods animals modern agriculture tall grass large numbers big little indian grass sand tall grasses flood plains missouri big rivers habitat wild tall grass wild rose bush shrubs herbs marsh hawks short owl short billed marsh birds home prairie rabbits meadow mice deer common animal life mid tall grass plants mid tall grass grow foot feet tall precipitation averages inches inches year region transition zone tall grasses southeast mid short grasses west zone eastern portion river valleys characteristics tall grass region western drained land similarities mid short grass common grasses needle thread grass mid short grass plants mid tall grass average inches maximum height foot short grasses live drained regions mid grasses grass western prairie june grass predominant grasses lead plant prairie rose common shrubs prairie herbs region flower flower seasonal flowers flower state flower common prior centuries modern animal life consists deer pocket ducks hawks common birds bull snakes blue replaced prairie common reptiles short mid grass western thirds precipitation irregular averages inches inches year thunderstorms rush prairie little shelter plants animals animals home grey wolf kit fox bull snake live prairie blue birds habitat ducks hawks turkey evening prairie star wild common plants wild buffalo prairie vegetation predominantly blue little green coniferous higher elevation precipitation ecology differs significantly plains mountains coniferous types including covering acres forest white timber western red cedar western yellow important lumber tree area state tree spruce home blue joint wild shrubs grow hills horse mint prevalent herbs grow widely wild pattern gold jewelry mammals include deer sheep mountain goats mountain lions streams lakes contain species trout rabbits wood rabbits live hills wild found limited quantity robin jay birds birds varied geography inhabited species birds state bird ring adapted particularly area introduced china growing populations bald eagles spread state especially near wild turkey large bird found areas state numerous lakes wetlands eastern support migratory populations canada snow wood ducks prairie serves home eastern western varieties open landscape plains suits birds hawks climate continental climate semi arid west outside distinct seasons ranging cold winters hot summers summers average high temperature state close generally near night unusual severe hot dry spells summer temperature climbing times year winters cold january high temperatures averaging freezing low temperatures averaging state highest temperature recorded state july lowest february average annual precipitation ranges semi arid northwestern state inches semi humid southeast portion state inches small area centered lead highest precipitation nearly inches year summers bring frequent thunderstorms severe high winds thunder hail eastern state considered tornado alley experiences average tornadoes year winters somewhat stable severe weather form ice storms occur season severe weather state occasionally turn deadly people killed tornadoes state flood tore central killing people causing hundreds millions dollars damage protected areas contains sites protected national_park_service national parks established located southwestern state national park created park features highly eroded brightly colored landscape surrounded semi arid established contains extensive cave network large herd established known attraction features mountain carved sculptor resemble presidents areas managed national_park_service include lewis historic trail missile national historic site features decommissioned nuclear missile addition national_park_service manages areas state contains national forests small section national contains numerous state parks managed fish parks large state park acres includes wildlife loop featuring large herd begging species notable parks state include near lewis near human geography according population census state ranked fifth lowest united_states total population population density center population located unincorporated county seat largest ancestry groups german norwegian irish native american english german americans largest ancestry group parts state large scandinavian populations counties american indians largely predominant counties western state highest proportion native americans state rural areas experiencing trend falling populations despite overall increase population effect rural flight spread evenly rural counties small towns lost population area gained population fact near ninth fastest growing county percentage united_states growth areas compensated losses rest state total population continues increase steadily albeit slower rate national average cities counties relatively notable lack large urban centers largest city state ranks largest country state largest city population population rural areas decreased years cities state grown rapid pace population concentrated rural according census estimates populous counties state lincoln home south counties held population largest city estimated population metropolitan area population city located southeast corner state founded economy originally focused business recently largely centered retail financial services estimated population metropolitan area population second largest city state located eastern edge western founded economy largely based tourism defense spending close proximity tourist attractions largest cities state order descending population mitchell state capital locations state largest universities largest cities state located west economy early economy relied heavily soil minerals ecology area nearly earliest white settlers area farmers miners economic sectors risen prominence recent years early dependence land laid foundation future economic activity state agriculture historically key component economy industries expanded rapidly recent decades agricultural production important state economy especially rural areas valuable agricultural products cattle corn wheat agriculture related industries meat packing production considerable economic impact state largest producers nation important sector economy tourism travel visit national parks state parks national monuments state particularly region location national parks west large cities east contributes state tourism industry tourism provided estimated jobs state contributed billion economy transportation total miles highways roads streets miles interstate highways major pass interstate runs east west interstate running north south eastern portion state located state shorter major highways pass state routes travel east west routes run north south railroads played important role transportation mid nineteenth century miles railroad track built late nineteenth early twentieth centuries miles railroad currently operational largest commercial airports located
Geography of South Dakota