According to Abbreviationfinder, with population of 884,659, South Dakota is the 47th largest state among U.S. 50 states, and SD is the two letter abbreviation for South Dakota. Here, we provide a list of major rivers and mountains in the state of South Dakota.
Rivers in South Dakota
Missouri River
The Missouri River is a 4,130 km long tributary of the Mississippi and flows through the states of Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas and Missouri. This makes the Missouri longer than the actual Mississippi and could be described as the longest river in the USA. The Missouri is created by the confluence of the Jefferson River and Madison River in southwestern Montana.
Big Sioux River
With a length of only 470 km, the Big Sioux River is a rather short tributary of the Missouri River. The Big Sioux River originates in the extreme northeast of South Dakota and generally flows south towards its mouth in the Missouri River near Sioux City. Since the river forms waterfalls at one point called Sioux Falls, the city of Sioux Falls also originated here. The river forms part of the border between the states of South Dakota and Iowa.
Cheyenne River
The Cheyenne River is approximately 475 km long and rises in the northeast of the state of Wyoming. On its way through South Dakota, the tributary of the Missouri flows south of the Black Hills to unite with the Missouri at its mouth in Lake Oahe.
James River
The James River, also called the Jim or simply the Dakota River, is a tributary of the Missouri River with a length of approx. 1,143 km. The James River rises relatively centrally in the state of North Dakota and flows south through the two Dakotas before it flows into the Missouri River near the city of Yankton on the border with Nebraska.
White River
The White River is a 930 km long tributary of the Missouri River and flows through South Dakota in a northeastern direction. The source of the White River is in northwestern Nebraska. With its influence in Lake Francis Case, the White River and the Missouri River merge in southeastern South Dakota.
- COUNTRYAAH: Alphabetical list of all cities, towns and villages in South Dakota, including biggest cities by population and capital city in the state of South Dakota.
Mountains in South Dakota
Harney Peak
At 2208 m, Harney Peak is the highest mountain in the state of South Dakota. It is located in the Black Hills and is logically the highest point. Furthermore, Harney Peak is the highest elevation in the United States, but only east of the Rocky Mountains. There is an observation deck at the top of Harney Peak. From which you can overlook the Black Hills.
The mountain range of the Black Hills is located in western South Dakota and northeastern Wyoming. The Black Hills cover an area approximately 160 km long and 96 km wide. The history of this mountain range is particularly interesting. If these mountains were considered sacred to the Lakota-Sioux, settlers in the past searched and found gold, coal, iron and now even petroleum and uranium. The Black Hills are particularly interesting from a tourist perspective, as they include the Mount Rushmore National Memorial, the Crazy Horse Memorial, Custer State Park and two cave systems of outstanding importance, the Wind Cave National Park, the Jewel Cave National Monument and the Monolith Devils Tower National Monument.
Terry Peak
The Terry Peak is also a mountain in the Black Hills and is considered a particularly popular ski area. Skiing has existed here since 1936. Today there are 4 lifts and 30 runs.
Lakes and reservoirs in South Dakota
Lake Thompson
With an area of approximately 50 km², Lake Thompson in the east of South Dakota is one of the largest natural lakes in the state. However, the size of the lake varies widely. In the 1930s the lake was completely dry. Lake Thompson is ideal for fishing. If you want to take it easy, stay overnight in the Lake Thompson Recreation Area.
| Contact | www.gfp.sd.gov/lake-thompson |
Lake Oahe
Lake Oahe is centrally located in northern South Dakota and has been dammed up by the Oahe Dam since 1963. With a maximum extension of 1,453 km², Lake Oahe is the fourth largest reservoir in the USA. In addition to the generation of energy, the Oahe dam is also used for flood control. Due to its enormous size, it has a coastline of approximately 3,600 km, there are over 50 designated recreation areas on its banks.
Big Stone Lake
The Big Stone Lake forms the border between the US states of Minnesota and South Dakota. The Big Stone Lake is basically the pent-up Minnesota River. The lake is a great destination for a day trip, as visitors will find Hartford Beach State Park and Big Stone Lake State Park (Minnesota). Fishing is particularly popular because it is particularly good for catching perch and pike.