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South Dakota is located in the Midwestern and Western regions of the United States, and ranks as the
17th largest state in total area by covering 77,121 square miles (199,742 square kilometers or
19,974,247 hectares). Land areas of South Dakota cover 75,898 square miles (196,575 square kilometers
or 19,657,492 hectares), whereas 1,224 square miles (3,170 square kilometers or 317,015 hectares) of
South Dakota are covered by water. South Dakota is bordered to the north by North Dakota, to the south
by Nebraska, to the east by Iowa and Minnesota, and to the west by Montana and Wyoming.
South Dakota can be categorized geographically into four major land regions: the Drift Prairie in
the eastern portion of the state, characterized by hills and lakes; the Dissected Till Plains in
southeastern South Dakota, with its hills and streams; the Great Plains, covering most of the western
part of the state; and the Black Hills in the southwestern part of the state, a range of ancient, low
mountains named for their dark pine forests. South Dakota also contains the unique geologic formations
known as the Badlands, with their strange shapes and many colors. The highest point in the Mount
Rushmore State is Harney Peak; at 7,242 feet (2.2 kilometers) above sea level it is notably the highest
peak in the U.S. east of the Rocky Mountains. Major South Dakota rivers include the Missouri, the Big
Sioux, the Belle Fourche, the Moreau, the Grand, Cheyenne, the James, and the White Rivers. Major
lakes include Lake Oahe, Lake Francis Case, and Lewis and Clark Lake.
Located remotely from the influence of oceanic air masses and centered in the continent, South
Dakota’s climate is characterized as a continental climate, and experiences great extremes. Summers
are hot and typically sunny, with July temperature averages of 79 degrees F (26.1 degrees C), and
winters are very cold, with average January highs around 12 degrees F (-11.1 degrees C). The Black
Hills experience warmer winters and cooler summers due to their higher elevation. The state is known
for its winter blizzards, high winds, and low annual rainfall, leading to droughts. The northwestern
portion of the state receives less annual precipitation than the southeastern portion, with
approximately 13 inches (33 centimeters) of rain annually versus 25 inches (64 centimeters) annually.
The state receives the greatest amount of rain from April to September. Cold winter temperatures
equate to precipitation in the form of snow; Sioux Falls receives an average of 41 inches (104
centimeters) of snow annually.
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