By Mark Orwell
The Black Hills are a small mountain range that runs from South Dakota to Wyoming, separated from the surrounding regions. It is a location rich in history that involves Native Americans and those who were involved in the westward expansion of the
United States. Today, the Black Hills offers draws for tourism. The hills are the site of Native American reservations and an Air Force base as well.
Native Americans
The Lakota tribe is the group of Native Americans most closely tied with the Black Hills. They drove out other tribes and laid claim to the land in the 18th century. Today, however, they live on reservations since they were driven out, in turn, by white settlers.
Gold
The Black Hills are notorious for being a major site during the gold rush in the mid-late 1870's. Thousands of miners came here at that time, and three major settlements were erected around the prospect of gold: Deadwood, Central City and Lead.
Geology
The geology of the Black Hills is a unique one. The mountains were formed from volcanic activity and act as a separate range from the nearby Rocky Mountains, surrounded by grassy plains and covered in trees.
Ecology
The biology and ecology of the Black Hills is also unique to the area, with most of the mountains being covered in Ponderosa pine trees. To the north, Black Hills Spruce also grows, while the southern area is covered in a Savannah landscape.
Tourism
The Black Hills area is home to three state parks and a number of national monuments, which draw tourists year-round. Hikers, skiers, bikers, and campers are all common to the area.
About the Author:
In the summer of 2003, Mark Orwell began his career as a freelance writer focusing on popular culture, music, and film. He continues to write on a broad array of topics from Miami, Florida. His work has been available in the United States, the Caribbean, and South Africa.
