Airfield Films

Southwest South Dakota.  August 9, 2011.  “The Badlands were formed by the geologic forces of deposition and erosion.  Deposition of sediments began 69 million years ago when an ancient sea stretched across what is now the Great Plains.  After the sea retreated, successive land environments, including rivers and flood plains, continued to deposit sediments.  Although the major period of deposition ended 28 million years ago, significant erosion of the Badlands did not begin until a mere half a million years ago.  Erosion continues to carve the Badlands buttes today. Eventually, the Badlands will completely erode away.”  – National Park Service