BADLANDS In the south west of the state of South Dakota is a mysterious-looking landscape that is rugged, sparse and a surreal-looking desert of rock that is colourfully known as the Badlands. For around five hundred thousand years the forces of wind, air and water have gradually shaped the mighty rocks that appear like huge walls across the Badlands. In some places the rock walls look like miniature mountains and everywhere one looks there are fascinating rock formations. In addition it is the many colours contained within the rock that also focus the attention. Conversely, the Badlands Prairie features a large variety of grasses that are only to be found in this region of North America. Between the scattered rocks are a total of fifty six varieties of grass that combine to form an ecological system that is unique in the world. Paleotologists also benefit from the weather beaten terrain of South Dakota as the south west region also features several fossil excavation sites. Remains of the original ancestors of the horse, the Mesohippus, have been discovered in the Badlands as well as the petrified bones of carnivores such as the Creodonten and various now-extinct turtles. Badlands may be its name but in no way does it describe the unspoiled magnificence of its truly unique and spectacular scenery.