Straddling the Dakotas, Standing Rock has become a symbol of tribal sovereignty and water rights. Beneath the postcard scenery runs a human history as deep and layered as the Badlands rock.

The reservation spans the border between the two Dakotas along the Missouri.

What sets it apart

It drew global attention during pipeline protests in 2016 and 2017. For those who know the region well, it is a quiet point of pride.

Standing Rock is home to Hunkpapa Lakota and Yanktonai Dakota people.

Why it matters

What ties it all together is a distinctly South Dakota balance between the wild and the worked-over. It is a heritage still very much alive in the communities and gatherings of today's South Dakota.