If You Start Digging in Sioux Falls Will You End Up in China?

I realize that several of the things I am about to share will confirm one thing to everyone reading this.

I'm old!

So ancient in fact that I remember my childhood when I spent many a day outside, playing for hours, armed with only an imagination. Not an electronic device anywhere, with the possible exception of a transistor radio (You're going to have to Google that kids).

When the occasion would call for a little digging in the dirt, I would find myself daydreaming about one of the common tales we were told back then - if you could somehow manage to burrow all the way from one side of the earth to the other, you'd find yourself poking your head out of a roughly 8,000-mile tunnel somewhere in China.

Given the fact that neither me, nor any of my friends had ever been to the Far East, and considering that China covers more than 3,000,000 square miles, it seemed more than reasonable that there is where I'd end up.

Boy was I wrong.

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To accurately predict what lies on the exact opposite side of the globe from any location, you turn to what is called an Antipodes Map, which takes a spot's longitude and latitude in one hemisphere and determines its corresponding location in the other hemisphere.

In the case of Sioux Falls (Northern Hemisphere) for instance, when you put in the coordinates 43.549975, -96.700327 (43° 32' 59.9" N, 96° 42' 1.2" W) and you are then whisked away to a place in the Southern Hemisphere at the other end of that imaginary line.

But before you book any plane tickets to this exotic location, there's one thing you need to know - you can only get there by boat.

You see, Sioux Falls' opposite number on the globe is a spot smack dab in the middle of the Indian Ocean -43.549975, 83.299673 (43° 32' 59.9" S, 83° 17' 58.8" E), with South Africa a considerable distance to the West and Australia equally as far away to the East.

AntipodesMap.com

But before you start to feel bad, remember, nearly every spot in the United States has a corresponding spot in the same vast body of water.

Turns out that if you want to end up in China, you'd need to start your journey in only one of two places on the globe - either Argentina or Chile.

Happy digging!

Sioux Falls: Then and Now

The City of Sioux Falls has changed dramatically over the past several years. Some of the streets, landscapes, and neighborhoods look vastly different than just 10-15 years ago.

Here's a look at Sioux Falls, then-and-now. See if you can recognize some of these old buildings, businesses, and city streets.

Gallery Credit: Andy Gott

The Ultimate Sioux Falls Visitor's Guide: A to Z

Sioux Falls has lots to explore; fun stuff for the whole family, food of every kind, educational opportunities, and more! If you have out-of-town guests visiting, show them around our city. Eat at places they've never eaten. Take them to places they'd never go. Take some great photos to post on social media (and don't forget the hashtag #HiFromSiouxFalls). We've even listed some cool hotels where they can stay if you don't have the room.

Sioux Falls, South Dakota. We call it the 'Sioux Empire.' It's the biggest city in the state with a population of nearly 200,000. We’re known for our namesake, Falls Park, along the Big Sioux River. Sioux Falls has received numerous accolades for its quality of life. We have been named the number one best place to rent in America. We’ve topped the list of Best States to Find a Job. Sioux Falls is the Best City in America for Young Professionals.

We've appeared on lists such as Most Charming Small Cities, Top 10 Place to Raise Kids, and even ranked 10th in the 2020 Top 100 Best Places to Live. We have an abundance of achievements and you can see them on the Sioux Falls Development Foundation's website.

It's a pretty awesome city and that's why we think you should come and visit. If you're coming on business or pleasure, we've put together a list of places to go and things to see. We know you want to explore the attractions the city is known for like Falls Park, the Arc of Dreams, and the Sculpture Walk, but there's a lot more to see and do than just the touristy (that's really a word) stuff. The best places to go are where the locals go and we have a not your average, ordinary visitor's guide.

Here's a list of over 100 things to do and places to go in Sioux Falls.

Click HERE for a list of all the places we mention and links to each one. Print it out or save it to your phone and use it as a reference when you're visiting. See you soon!

Gallery Credit: Karla Brown - KKRC

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