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Place Name
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Black Hills
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Place Status (Type)
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mountain range
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Location
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South Dakota, United States, North America
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Latitude
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unknown
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Longitude
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unknown
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Black Hills
, rugged mountain range (
c.6,000 sq mi/15,540 sq km),
enclosed by the Belle Fourche (N) and Cheyenne (S and E) rivers, SW
S.Dak. and NE Wyo., rising c.2,500 ft/762 m
above the surrounding Great Plains; Harney Peak,
7,242 ft/2,207 m above sea level, is the
highest point bet. the Rocky and the Applachian mts. Geologically,
Black Hills formation is an outlier of the Rockies, a remnant of a
once-larger mt. range. The mts. received their name from the heavily
forested slopes that appear black from afar. Native Americans, pioneer
settlers, and RR companies depended on its wood for fuel and bldg.
materials. Gold was discovered here in 1874 by an expedition led by
Gen. George Custer, and the resulting gold rush drove out the
indigenous pop. Towns (esp. mining settlements) grew rapidly after
1876, chiefly Custer, Deadwood, Lead, Spearfish, and Hot Springs (all
in S.Dak.). Gold is still mined in the area; Homestake Mine is one of
the largest gold mines in the U.S. Other important minerals found here
are uranium, feldspar, mica, and silver. Also a major recreational area
of the N plains and a principal tourist spot. Black Hills Natl. Forest
covers most of area, mostly in S.Dak. and small part in Wyo. Wind Cave
Natl. Park, Jewel Cave Natl. Monument, and Custer State Park are
attractions; numerous waterfalls, caves; several ski areas. The
6,000-ft/1,829-m Mt. Rushmore, with its gigantic mt.
sculpture of Presidents Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln, and
T. Roosevelt, is famous throughout the world (see Mount Rushmore
National Memorial). Crazy Horse Monument
5 mi/8 km N of Custer has sculpture of a
legendary warrior, and is considered the Native Amer. version of Mt.
Rushmore. Fauna include bison, pronghorn antelope, beaver, deer, elk,
prairie dog, and a wide range of birds.
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