Autumn Morning in Spearfish Canyon

by Greni Graph

Title

Autumn Morning in Spearfish Canyon

Artist

Greni Graph

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Photograph - Photography

Description

Autumn colors surround Spearfish Creek in Spearfish Canyon. Black Hills of South Dakota. Spearfish Canyon is a deep but narrow gorge carved by Spearfish Creek just south of Spearfish, South Dakota in the U.S. It is located on the northern edge of Black Hills National Forest. Many tourists drive through the canyon, drawn to the region due to its wide range of plant and wildlife, geology, rock formations, and waterfalls. Spearfish Creek holds populations of rainbow and brown trout and is dammed in several spots, affording fishing opportunities. Stocking of trout in Spearfish Creek was discontinued in the 1970's and all trout in the creek today are wild. In addition, remnants of Spearfish Canyon's active mining history are still easily found in some locations. Of the 1,585 plant species found in South Dakota, 1,260 species are in the Black Hills, many of which can be found in Spearfish Canyon. Ponderosa Pines are the most prominent vegetation in the Black Hills, rivaling the evergreens of the Northwest. As for bird species, Turkeys, Bluejays, Woodpeckers, Cliff Swallows, Chickadees, and Golden or Bald Eagles. The canyon supports a cross-section of four-footed animal life. White-tail and Mule deer can be found throughout the drive. Porcupines, Raccoons, Squirrels, and Chipmunks might be spotted as well as a Bobcat or a Yellow-Bellied Marmot. Spearfish Canyon is often studied by geologists due to the extreme old age of the Precambrian rocks exposed by the Creek bed. The Canyon's high walls are of three dominant rock types. Deadwood shale at the bottom can be identified by its brown color, is multi-layered in appearance and ranges from 10 to 400 feet thick. Englewood limestone in the middle is pink to red colored and is 30 to 60 feet thick. Paha sapa limestone, the top layer, is the thickest (300 to 600 feet) and is buff colored and weathered gray in appearance. Caves and fossils are frequently found in Paha sapa limestone.dakota, light, photography, morning, spearfish, canyon, spearfish canyon, fall, color, dry creek, spearfish creek, aspen, aspens, pine, tree, trees, yellow, gold, golden, rust, red, green, boxelder, nature, natural, rugged, wall #201209255988a

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October 6th, 2012

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