Red Shirt Table facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Red Shirt Table |
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Topographic outline of Red Shirt Table
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| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 3,340 ft (1,020 m) |
| Geography | |
| Location | Oglala Lakota County, South Dakota |
| Topo map | USGS |
| Climbing | |
| Easiest route | Red Shirt Table Road |
Red Shirt Table is a special type of mountain found in Oglala Lakota County, South Dakota. It is part of the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, which belongs to the Oglala Sioux Tribe. This unique landform is named after Chief Red Shirt, an important leader of the Oglala Lakota people.
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What is Red Shirt Table?
Red Shirt Table is a "table mountain." This means it has a flat top, much like a table, with steep sides. It stretches for about 10 miles (16 kilometers) from north to south. The table is located right next to the western edge of Badlands National Park's Stronghold Unit.
How Big is It?
The highest point of Red Shirt Table is at its southern end. It reaches about 3,340 feet (1,018 meters) above sea level. The southern part of the table has an irregular shape. It connects to a more rectangular northern part by a narrow section. This narrow part is less than 800 feet (244 meters) wide.
The northern part of the table can be up to 2 miles (3 kilometers) wide. It has two long, rounded sections. There is a natural channel between these sections where water flows when it rains. The top of the table gently slopes downwards as you go north. The northern edge is about 2,800 feet (853 meters) high. The sides of the table drop off steeply, sometimes as much as 300 feet (91 meters).
Water Around the Table
Two creeks are important to the area around Red Shirt Table. French Creek flows to the northeast. Cedar Creek is another important waterway. It drains the entire east side of the table. Cedar Creek is an intermittent stream, meaning it only flows sometimes, usually after heavy rain or snowmelt.
Other Table Mountains
Red Shirt Table is not the only table mountain in the White River Badlands. This area is known for many such flat-topped landforms. Other examples include Cuny Table, Sheep Mountain Table, and Heck Table. Each of these tables adds to the unique landscape of the Badlands.
The Red Shirt Community
The Oglala Lakota community of Red Shirt is located below the northern end of the table. It sits in the valley of the Cheyenne River. This village is the closest community within the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation to Rapid City, South Dakota. The community of Red Shirt has been growing in recent years.
