INTERIOR, S.D. (AP) — For the first time in 15 years, more than a million people visited Badlands National Park in South Dakota.

The National Park Service says almost 1.1 million people took in the rugged landscapes of the park in 2015. That's a nearly 14 percent increase compared to 2014.

Badlands National Park covers 244,000 acres in south central South Dakota. It was established as a national monument in 1939 but didn't become a national park until 1978.

Park Superintendent Mike Pflaum says the increased visitation numbers show that people continue to find the park a great place to visit.

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