Snake River Canyon (Wyoming)

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Snake River Canyon/Grand Canyon
Snake River at Alpine, Wyoming.jpg
Snake River near Alpine, Wyoming
Geography
Country United States
State Wyoming
County Lincoln
Coordinates 43°10′28″N111°00′04″W / 43.17444°N 111.00111°W / 43.17444; -111.00111 Coordinates: 43°10′28″N111°00′04″W / 43.17444°N 111.00111°W / 43.17444; -111.00111 [1]
The Snake River Canyon along US 26/US 89 near Hoback Junction, Wyoming Snake River Canyon WY1.jpg
The Snake River Canyon along US 26/US 89 near Hoback Junction, Wyoming

The Snake River Canyon (also known as the Grand Canyon) is formed by the Snake River in western Wyoming, United States, south of Jackson Hole. [2]

Contents

At the southern end of this canyon is the town of Alpine, Wyoming where the Snake River meets the Greys River and the Salt River at Palisades Reservoir on the Wyoming-Idaho border. It is a popular destination for rafting trips and is known for having some of the best white-water rafting in the United States. Running through the canyon is US 89.

Geology

The Snake River cuts through a fold and thrust belt on its way from Hoback, Wyoming to Alpine, Wyoming. The North American Plate has pushed against the Farallon Plate to create many geologic features including the folds and thrusts visible in the Snake River Canyon in Wyoming.

Fold and thrust in the Snake River Canyon Fold and thrust in the Snake River Canyon.pdf
Fold and thrust in the Snake River Canyon

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The Hoback River, once called the Fall River, is an approximately 55-mile (89 km)-long tributary of the Snake River in the U.S. state of Wyoming. It heads in the northern Wyoming Range of Wyoming and flows northeast, northwest, and then west through the Bridger-Teton National Forest. Its largest tributary is its South Fork, which joins the Hoback about nine miles downstream of its head as it turns northeast and continues to U.S. Route 191. It then turns northwest, where it spreads onto a large marshy flat in a braided floodplain once known as Jackson's Little Hole, but now referred to as the "Hoback Basin" in which lies the town of Bondurant. It then heads west, entering the steep, narrow Hoback Canyon from which it emerges to join the Snake about 11 miles (18 km) south of Jackson Hole, just upstream of head of the Snake River Canyon near the town of Hoback. The entire length of the Hoback is free flowing and unobstructed by dams. About 30 miles (48 km) downstream from the confluence with the Hoback River, the Snake River crosses into the state of Idaho and is impounded by Palisades Dam.

The Snake River Range is located in the U.S. states of Wyoming and Idaho and includes 10 mountains over 9,000 feet (2,700 m). The tallest peak in the range is Mount Baird at 10,030 feet (3,060 m). The range trends northwest to southeast and is bordered on the north by the Teton Range and the two ranges meet at Teton Pass. The Snake River Range is bordered by the Palisades Reservoir to the west and the Snake River, which sweeps completely around the eastern, southern and western part of the range. The range is approximate 30 miles (48 km) north to south and 33 miles (53 km) west to east, covering 528 square miles (1,370 km2). Along the southern boundary, the Snake River passes through Grand Canyon, also known as the Snake River Canyon. U.S. Route 26/U.S. Route 89 follows the course of the Snake River from Hoback Junction to the Palisades Reservoir.

References

  1. "Grand Canyon". Geographic Names Information System . United States Geological Survey.
  2. Pine Creek, WY (Map). TopoQwest (United States Geological Survey Maps). Retrieved 20 Jan 2013.

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