Yellow Mound Valley, Badlands

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This photograph shows a grassy valley containing colorful yellow mounds, all surrounded by a fortress-like wall of classic eroded badlands formations. Due to variations in the cloud density the light varied greatly while we were at this spot. I took numerous exposures and later chose this one for the subdued look with just the right amount of "pop".

Badlands National park protects 242,756 acres (98240 Ha) of sharply eroded buttes and pinnacles, along with the largest undisturbed mixed grass prairie in the United States. Part of this area is a 64,144 acre (25958 Ha) designated wilderness area. This wilderness is one site where black-footed ferrets, one of the most endangered mammals in the world, was reintroduced. The U.S. National Park Service manages the park, with the South Unit being co-managed with the Oglala Lakota tribe.