We visited Buffalo Bill Museum, ate beans from a chuck wagon, and saw a rodeo. The rodeo had three competitions: calf roping, bull and bronco riding, and my favorite barrel racing. It was amazing to see little girls riding horses at a maximum speed. Kids from the audience had fun chasing calves that had ribbons attached to their tails. Crazy Horse Memorial, South Dakota | Cody, Wyoming |
Lakota Chief Henry Standing Bear contacted Korczak in 1939 to encourage him to carve a mountain, saying in his letter of invitation: “My fellow chiefs and I would like the white man to know the red man has great heroes, too”; Crazy Horse was remembered by his people as a fierce warrior and visionary leader who was committed to preserving traditional Lakota way of life. The work began in 1948. Korczak refused to accept any money from the government. After his death, his children and his wife have continued their work on the mountain. Custer State Park, South Dakota | |
We expected to see herds of buffalo, and we didn't get disappointed. The buffalo were grazing like cows on green pasture, lazily crossing the roads, or staring at the cars. Most of them were shedding their dark brown shaggy winter coats. There used to be millions of buffalo in South Dakota. In 1900 there were only 1000 left, Today Custer State Park has 1500. In order to manage the animal population, some buffalo are killed during a roundup each year. Other animals that we saw in Custer State Park were mule deer that have large funny looking ears, elk, second largest after the moose, prairie dogs, and pronghorns. Pronghorns are also called antelope. They are the fastest land animals in N. America and can reach speeds of 60 mph. | |
| Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, Idaho, Montana |
The most amazing feature of the park was the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone with the Yellowstone River meandering through the valley. We learned that hot water acting on a volcanic rock created the canyon's colors. We took a guided tour at Norris Geyser Basin. It is the park's hottest, most acidic hydro thermal area. Steamboat Geyser is the world's tallest active geyser. The ranger pinpointed not only geysers but also steam vents (fumarols), mud pots, and hot springs. Yellowstone sits on a volcano. Thus, it is affected by numerous earthquakes. Earthquakes are beneficial because they open up the vents. Some organisms adapted to 200 F such as soldier flies.
Yellowstone has 300 geysers. Geysers gush, spurt, splash. Rock is heated by cooling magma. Pressure builds up. It goes through a constriction and the vent. Hot springs simmer, and steam, Steam vents (fumaroles) sizzle, hiss, growl.
Mud pots plop, bubble, and belch. Old Faithful is the best performer. Yellowstone Lake is the largest high altitude lake. Yellowstone caldera was formed 640,000 years ago. A caldera is a volcanic depression. We watched a presentation about raptors. Peregrine falcons are the fastest animals in nature reaching speeds of 200 mph. Turkey vultures follow the smell of the rotten meat. Golden eagles are the largest flying predators.
Yellowstone has 300 geysers. Geysers gush, spurt, splash. Rock is heated by cooling magma. Pressure builds up. It goes through a constriction and the vent. Hot springs simmer, and steam, Steam vents (fumaroles) sizzle, hiss, growl.
Mud pots plop, bubble, and belch. Old Faithful is the best performer. Yellowstone Lake is the largest high altitude lake. Yellowstone caldera was formed 640,000 years ago. A caldera is a volcanic depression. We watched a presentation about raptors. Peregrine falcons are the fastest animals in nature reaching speeds of 200 mph. Turkey vultures follow the smell of the rotten meat. Golden eagles are the largest flying predators.
Lake Coeur D'Alene, Idaho
Lake Coeur D'Alene is surrounded by the mountains and lush forest. I had a great time swimming and kayaking. A paddle boat looked too difficult. The beach was full of men and women covered from head to toes in colorful tattoos.