Landscape
The park is split between two very different types of terrain: a truly enormous expanse of prairie and a dry, rocky world of eroded pinnacles, buttes and gravel.
Size
The park encompasses 244,000 acres, or 381.25 square miles; 64,144 acres of this is a designated, protected wilderness area. The park is the largest stretch of protected prairie in the U.S.
Endangered Wildlife
The black-footed ferret.
Badlands National Park is home to the black-footed ferret, considered the most endangered land mammal in America. The species is already extinct in Canada.
Other Wildlife
Bison cow and calf
The park also is home to bighorn sheep and the famous bison of the prairie.
Flora
The prairie by definition is too wet to be a desert, but too dry to support trees. Therefore there are 56 species of grass in the park, but almost no trees.
Climate
In January, the average high temperature is 34 F and the average low is 11 F. In July, the average high is 83 F and the average low is 56 F.
Article Written By Edwin Thomas
Edwin Thomas has been writing since 1997. His work has appeared in various online publications, including The Black Table, Proboxing-Fans and others. A travel blogger, editor and writer, Thomas has traveled from Argentina to Vietnam in pursuit of stories. He holds a Master of Arts in international affairs from American University.
