The Grand Teton

Grand Teton National Park inspires your sense of wonder. Magnificent mountains tower over a valley bisected by the Snake River. This beautiful valley, overlooked on the western edge by an impressive skyline, is known as Jackson Hole. The Teton Range dominates the landscape of the park.

The range began rising 2 to 13 million years ago. There were numerous earthquakes that released tension along the Teton Fault to create a vertical offset of 23,000 feet. However, when you view the range you will see that the Grand Teton at 13,770 feet, stands only about 7,000 feet above the valley floor. Most of the elevation change has been buried in this gravity driven environment. Erosion is filling the valley in but it also bestowed the Teton Range with a rugged appearance. The terrain and lack of foothills allures outdoor enthusiasts of all types to visit this area. Climbers can find at least 12 peaks in the Teton Range over 12,000 feet high with varying degrees of difficulty.

What's shaking in the Intermountain West (Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, Arizona and New Mexico)? Visit the "Recent Earthquakes in the Intermountain West" website to learn about recent earthquakes in the area. The site provides local magnitude, times of occurrence and proximity to local towns and cities.