Western Great Plains, Badlands, SD, USA

SL2-81-162 (22 June 1973) --- The most striking feature of this scene of the western Great Plains and the Badlands of SD (43.5N, 101.0W) is the rugged topography of the landscape. Over eons of time, the White River has carved out a badlands topography of steep gullies, irregular winding ridges and isolated buttes. The barren wasteland of badlands light toned rock surfaces contrast sharply with the adjacent vegetated landscape of native grasslands and cultivated fields. Photo credit: NASA