By Scott Shephard
Looking west from the Little Bend Recreation Area towards the confluence of the Cheyenne & Missouri Rivers (Lake Oahe, SD)
This is not a photo from another planet. It’s not that kind of alien. This is central South Dakota. But I’m guessing that most South Dakotans have not seen this part of their state - certainly not like this. “Alien,” in this context means “unfamiliar,” “strange,” or “from a different place.” The Missouri River, near the Little Bend and the Cheyenne River (top center left), when seen from the air, are all of these.
And in this particular case, because Lake Oahe is 15’ below full pool, you see land that hasn’t seen the light of day in a few years. It looks barren and lifeless, doesn’t it? But life abounds: piping plovers, killdeer, least terns and even loons are among the many birds I see here. There’s even a bald eagle that hangs out in this area. It’s wary of humans like me and never lets me get close. But it’s still a thrill to see even from a distance. Of course the water is full of life, including walleye, northern pike and bass. It’s the fishing that draws people to this part of the state. But not me.
As I’ve written before, I like the solitude, the silence and the stark beauty of this seemingly empty place. I can’t imagine ever getting tired of it . . . .
DJI Mini 3 Pro 5 frame HDR
(Here’s a photo looking 180 degrees the other way. If you know what to look for, you can see the road to the high and dry main Little Bend boat ramp and beyond that lies the the camp ground, where my camper is parked. Thirty miles south of here, as the eagle flies, you will reach the Oahe Dam.)
