2011 Map of String Buttes

About this map

Lake Sakakawea dominates the northern reaches of this Missouri River plateau landscape, where the inundated shoreline meets the high plains of North Dakota. The terrain is defined by distinct topographical markers such as Heart Butte and the eponymous String Buttes to the south. This 2011 survey by the U.S. Geological Survey maps a network of Bureau of Indian Affairs routes, including Bia 12 and Bia 10, which provide primary access across the prairie. The drainage patterns of Skunk Creek and its tributary, South Fork Skunk Creek, carve through the grasslands, illustrating the natural watercourses that have historically shaped this region's ranching and agricultural potential.