#hotspringssd

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The Mammoth Site of Hot Springs, South Dakota is a museum and paleontological site near Hot Springs, South Dakota. It is an active paleontological excavation site at which research and excavations are continuing.

The area of Mammoth Site of Hot Springs enclose a prehistoric sinkhole that formed and was slowly filled with sediments during the Pleistocene era. The sedimentary fill of the sinkhole contains the remains of Pleistocene fauna and flora preserved by entrapment and burial within a sinkhole. This site has the greatest concentration of mammoth remains in the world.

As of 2016, the remains of 61 mammoths, including 58 North American Columbian and 3 woolly mammoths had been recovered. Mammoth bones were found at the site in 1974, and a museum and building enclosing the site were established. The museum now contains an extensive collection of mammoth remains.

[monika-mullins]

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We drank water from the all curing Kidney Springs supposedly can cure kidney diseases 😋 #KidneySpringsSD #hotspringssd #SouthDakota #drinkingwater #springwater (at Hot Springs, South Dakota) https://www.instagram.com/p/BnJak6JgieY/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1dkbv3cnyrxzg

[rialstyle-blog]

I’m on the road again this week and visiting #hotspringssd. The leaves are just starting to change and creating a perfect backdrop for this stunning new Mystic wrap from @nylaandnoelle. This will be a staple piece in my #fallwardrobe. It goes perfect with my Zamira dress in marine blue. Visit my website for these styles and more. Link in bio. #rialstyle #nylaandnoellewithria #nylaandnoelle #nnfeatureme #riaspaparazzi #paparazziaccessories #fashionblogger #styleblogger #personalstylist #fashionaddict #fashionista #ootd #outfitoftheday #outfitideas #fashiongram #instafashion #styleinspiration #fashion #style #getthelook #fashionforward #instagood #fromwhereistand #fallfashion #hellofall https://www.instagram.com/p/BohzDG3nUC_/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1ga40oir3q4zn

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Twelve hours in Hot Springs, SD. I’ll be back with more time in my pocket. #hotspringssd #woollymammoth #nouraniummining #blackhillsbadlands (at Hot Springs, South Dakota)

[rocketeer7]

Warm artesian-fed spring waters created a pond that was attractive to wildlife. Findings at the site include the remains of megafauna such as giant short-faced bears along with those of shrub oxen, American camel, llama, wolves, coyotes, birds, minks, ferrets, prairie dogs, voles, and moles. Invertebrate discoveries include several species of clams, snails, and slugs.

The majority of the mammoth remains have been identified as those of Columbian Mammoths, although the remains of three Woolly mammoths have been found as well.

Mammoths that slipped into the sinkhole found it difficult to escape. Researchers measuring the pelvic bones of the remains have determined that most of the victims were young males.

[rocketeer7]

Short Faced Bear-

So how big was this bear anyway? When we think of modern grizzlies and polar bears their size is staggering, but this prehistoric monster was bigger still. On all fours it would have stood eye-to-eye with a 6ft grown man. Rearing up on their hind legs, some specimens would have topped twelve feet tall.

Large adult grizzly bears stand around nine feet tall, and polar bears are a bit bigger, standing around ten feet. Arctodus Simus would have towered over them all. To further put this in perspective, regulation height for a basketball rim is ten feet. A bear standing almost as tall as a regulation NBA basketball backboard is beyond terrifying.

Polar bears are regarded as the biggest modern bear species. Adult male polar bears might weigh around 1,200 pounds, and the heaviest on record weighed in at just over 2,200 pounds. By comparison, this prehistoric bear would have weighed in around 2,500 pounds. One specimen of the South American giant short-faced bear unearthed in 1935 may have tipped the scales at a colossal 3,500 pounds!

To make matters worse, this bear wasn’t just huge; it could also run. With longer legs in comparison to modern brown bears and a leaner, lankier build the short-faced bear may have been capable of reaching speeds as high a 40 miles-per-hour

[rocketeer7]

The hundreds of miles mapped out of Wind Cave National Park.

In 1888, Allen McDonald was teenager who mapped and explored the Wind Cave of nearly 8-10 miles. His gear consisted of candlelight sticks And rolling out string to mark his way throughout the cave and giving every room a name that he jotted down in his journal. He shared his adventure with paying visitors who were enthralled with his findings.

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Starting at about 6,200 feet, the Black Elk Peak trail gains 1,100 feet in elevation over the 3.5 mile hike to the summit totaling the peak at 7,231.32 feet. The entire loop is 7.5 miles long.

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Columbian Mammoth at The Mammoth site of Hotsprings, South Dakota

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Wind Cave is the first cave national park and currently, the 6th most extensive cave network in the world. It's most famous for its large concentration of a fairly rare cave formation known as boxwork. Boxwork is formed when dissolved calcium carbonate crystallized in cracks in surrounding rock. The surrounding rock then erodes away and leaves the boxlike calcite crystals.

Alvin McDonald would collecting boxwork formations as specimens to sell at the nearby town of Hotsprings,SD.

[rocketeer7]

Hotsprings South Dakota was a quaint town with big surprises of its history, museum, and friendliness throughout its community.

Discovering The Mammoth Site was a rewarding and educational experience that will not disappear in our memories.

This is the same town where Alvin McDonald visited to sell his specimen found in Wind Cave National Park. His journal describes his venture of restocking supplies, selling his finds, and advertising the cave tours to tourists from the cave pictures I took before.

[rocketeer7]

Thursday Feb. 12th, 1891

(4:10 in cave) (Guide Discovery Route 1 trip)

Father returned from Hot Springs at 1:30 P.M. At 6:00 P.M. J.M. Moore, Elmer and I started on an exploring trip on the Guide Discovery Route. Choosing the right wing of the route, we undertook to explore the hole that O.K. Rounds and I found on 26th day of October 1890, and found it hard climbing. When we got to the bottom we found a place that I had been in before, a room with mud in the bottom of it.

It was the second room (to the left of the main route) from the bottom of the deep hole near the Guides Discovery. From this room we found our way to the first room, and from there we found a way back to the bottom of the deep hole near the Guide's Discovery. When we was trying to find a way to get down deeper, I found that same ledge of Marble that I found in the Monument Hall & Sampson's Palace Routes.

On our way out we determined to explore a deep crevice near the South Dressing Room, and came down near the end of the Oven. We got out of the cave at 10:10 P.M. after seeing lots of cave and making a few important discoveries.

It is a clear night and quite a bit of snow thawed today. I took the first trip on the Guide Discovery Route today that I have taken on that route this year. Good night A!

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Below these prairie hills in Wind Cave National Park lay hundreds of explored miles of underground cave tunnels.

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Beauty in the Blackhills. Custer State Park should be a National Park.

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Looking off into the Blackhills

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Wednesday Feb 11th, 1891

(5:45 in cave) (Monument Hall Route 1 trip)

Father started to Hot Springs this morning at 7:00 o'clock A.M. J.M.Moore and I started for Monument Hall. When we got just this side of Devil's Lookout we found a ledge of Marble about 26 inches thick. On our way to Monument Hall we found several places that we threatened to explore on way back.

We explored all the places except the last one, but found nothing. When we got up to the middle of the longest stretch on the rope, I determined to explore that little hole, that I threatened to explore on the 25th day of January 1891, when West, Moore & Elmer were with me. I left J.M. Moore at the top of the crevice & started down It (the crevice) when I got about half way down I met with a bothersome obstacle in the shape of a rock.

After hammering it (the rock) out of the way I called for the rope, (because there was a hole below me that I could not see the bottom of) and got it in about a minute. I was surprised to find that the rope would not reach within ten feet of the bottom of the hole, and that was the hardest climbing of the whole business (the bottom of the hole is about level with the bottom of the White Elephants).

I found myself in a wonderful place & among the most beautiful scenery in the volcanic part of Wind Cave. From here I found the most dangerous climbing that I ever experienced. In the first place l got into the middle of (as far as I could tell) a place that I could see neither bottom nor top. After I got out of that scrape I found a room about the shape of Monument Hall and about twice as long. At the far end of this room I saw some beautiful bracket work that was crystallized.

After I left this room about 400 feet behind I came suddenly & unexpectedly to a stop. On the way back I saw the main passage that I had missed but had not the time to explore it because I thought J.M. Moore was getting anxious about me. I found it a good deal harder climbing to get back than I had at first supposed. When I got up the rope we pulled it out of the place, I had just been in and put it in its old place. When we got back to Devil's Lookout we found that ledge of marble in the south end of it.

When we got it to Snow Ball Room we tried to get some Fairy's Palace crystal but with poor success. (J.B. West came on business about sundown or a little after) I and J.M. Moore got out of the cave at 12:45 P.M., the longest trip I have taken on the Monument Hall Route since my first trip to Monument Hall on the 26th day of March 1890.