Watford City in McKenzie County, North Dakota — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)
Badlands Panorama
Photographed by Bill Coughlin, July 21, 2015
1. Badlands Panorama Marker
The colorful and fantastic shapes along these canyon walls are part of an ever-changing landscape. The horizontal layers of multi-colored sandstone, clay and shale are complimented by scattered beds of lignite coal and patches of pastel pink scoria. Scoria, or clinker, is created when the soft lignite burns, baking the surrounding clay to this bright color.
Other layers contain concentrations of petrified logs and stumps of redwood, cypress and cedar. The rock layers are easily eroded, thus the scene is constantly changing.
Erected by North Dakota State Highway Department.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Natural Features.
Location. 47° 34.225′ N, 103° 14.243′ W. Marker is in Watford City, North Dakota, in McKenzie County. It is on Theodore Roosevelt Expressway (U.S. 85), on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Watford City ND 58854, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in North Dakota’s Bakken Oil Patch. It is also in the American Lewis & Clark Corridor, on the prairies, and on the Northern Plains. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once Ruperts Land and also the Louisiana Purchase.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 7 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Walter H. Chaloner (approx. 2.1 miles away); Theodore Roosevelt National Park (approx. 2.3 miles away); Layers in Time / Portraits in Stone (approx. 2.9 miles away); Tilted (approx. 3.4
this page online
Other markers no longer nearby. Longhorns (was approx. 2.8 miles away but has been permanently removed); Slump Formation (was approx. 3.4 miles away but has been permanently removed); Cannon Ball Concretions (was approx. 4.8 miles away but has been permanently removed); Long X Cattle Trail (was approx. 5½ miles away but has been permanently removed).
Photographed by Bill Coughlin, July 21, 2015
2. Badlands Panorama Marker
Photographed by Bill Coughlin, July 21, 2015
3. Badlands Panorama Marker
Photographed by Bill Coughlin, July 21, 2015
4. North Dakota Badlands
Photographed by Bill Coughlin, July 21, 2015
5. Badlands Panorama
Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on July 21, 2015, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. This page has been viewed 555 times since then and 15 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on July 21, 2015, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey.
