Two Top and Big Top Mesa facts for kids

Two Top and Big Top Mesa are two special flat-topped hills, called mesas. They are found about one mile (1.6 kilometers) apart in western North Dakota. In 1965, these mesas were named National Natural Landmarks. This means they are important natural places in the United States. The tops of these mesas are very rare. They have never been used for farming or for animals to eat grass. This makes them perfect examples of natural grasslands. You can find them near the Little Missouri National Grasslands.

What Are These Mesas Like?

Big Top Mesa is the larger of the two. It covers about 12 acres (about 4.9 hectares). Two Top Mesa is smaller, around 2 acres (about 0.8 hectares). Both mesas rise about 400 feet (122 meters) above the land around them. This surrounding land is known as the badlands. The mesas are made of different types of rock and soil. These include sandstone, a type of soil called Morton silt loam, and clay.