Wanderlust World Wanderlust World South Dakota shares boundaries with six neighbors—more than most states—reflecting its position in the northern Great Plains transition zone.
The Missouri River bisects South Dakota diagonally (southeast to northwest), creating distinct "East River" (glaciated prairies, corn/soy) and "West River" (unglaciated badlands, ranching, Black Hills) subregions. This internal divide often matters more than external borders for economic and cultural orientation.
Mount Rushmore, Badlands, Wind Cave, and the Sturgis Rally anchor West River tourism; East River hosts Sioux Falls (largest city), Pierre (capital), and agricultural processing.