Black Elk Peak

Black Elk PeakBlack Elk Peak (Harney Peak; centre) towering over Sylvan Lake in Custer State Park, Black Hills region of South Dakota.
Black Elk Peak
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Black Elk PeakBlack Elk Peak (Harney Peak) in the Black Hills region of South Dakota.
Black Elk Peak, South Dakota
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Black Elk Peak, South Dakota

Black Elk Peak, highest point (7,242 feet [2,207 metres]) in the Black Hills and in South Dakota, U.S., and the highest point in North America east of the Rocky Mountains. It is found about 10 miles (16 km) northeast of Custer near Mount Rushmore National Memorial. The granite peak, noted for its scenic views and mountain goats, was originally named for Gen. William S. Harney, a commander in the Plains Wars, who in 1857 passed nearby with a military force en route to Fort Pierre. In 2016 the peak was renamed Black Elk Peak by the U.S. Board on Geographic Names.

The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica This article was most recently revised and updated by Michael Ray.
Citation Information
Article Title: Black Elk Peak
Website Name: Encyclopaedia Britannica
Publisher: Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc.
Date Published: 02 October 2023
URL: https://www.britannica.comhttps://www.britannica.com/place/Black-Elk-Peak
Access Date: November 24, 2024