By Brandon DeCesare

The three things I am going to discuss are 1.land, 2.economy and 3.culture.

South Dakota is where the Midwest meets the West and where fields become ranches, hills and mountains.

The Lay of the Land The Eastern 2/5 of South Dakota is prairie. The Western 3/5 falls within the Missouri Plateau. The Black Hills, located near the Rocky Mountains, make up the southern half of the state's western border. The Badlands are east of the southern Black Hills.

Black Hills – A mountainous area made up of granite and metamorphic rock. The highest point is Harney Peek at 7,192 feet. The Badlands are a barren, eroded region with many fossil deposits. Rocky Mountains Stretch more than 3,000 miles from Canada to New Mexico.

 The main body of water is the Missouri River.  Big Stone Lake is the lowest point is South Dakota.  Dams along the Missouri River create reservoirs.  The Missouri River is important for moving products around the state.

The lowlands are home to agricultural and cattle farms, which used to be the main way people earned a living in South Dakota.

Economy

Before South Dakota was a state, the Plains Indians traded furs, pottery and beads.

By the late 1800’s, most of the beavers used for fur trade had been killed and people became farmers.

Manufactured products in South Dakota are Computer and computer parts Food processing Machinery and Transportation equipment

Mining Mind products include Granite Limestone Sand and Gravel Petroleum and Gold

Services 1.Insurance, finance and Real-estate 2.Business and personal services (Lawyers Motels) 3. Wholesale and retail trade

Culture

The culture of South Dakota is influenced by American Indians The culture of the American West and Traditions of immigrants

Events include The Buffalo Roundup Sidewalk art festivals Pow wows And Sturgis Motorcycle Rally

Historical South Dakota was made famous in Laura Ingalls Wilder’s Little House on the Prairie books.

Much of South Dakota’s culture is seen in its tourist attractions: The Corn Palace Mount. Rushmore Crazy Horse Memorial Wall Drug Old gold mining towns

Famous people from South Dakota L. Frank Baum wrote the wizard of Oz Hubert Humphreywas vice President under Lyndon Johnson Bob Barker host of the price is right.

Fast Facts Information slide State Tree: Black Hills spruce State Animal: Coyote State Bird: Chinese ring-necked pheasant State Sport: Rodeo State Flower: Pasque