By Eulalia Palomo
Facts about the Grand Tetons
The Grand Tetons are in northwestern Wyoming, protected by Grand Teton National Park. Steep mountain peaks, glacial lakes and high alpine valleys make the Tetons a spectacular destination. Though the winter months are long and snow covered, often lasting well into spring, the summer months are warm.
Elevation
The Grand Teton mountain range is 40 miles long and between 7 and 9 miles wide. Grand Teton is the tallest peak at 13,770 feet high. There are 12 mountain peaks in the range that stand above 12,000 feet high.
Climate
The climate of the Grand Tetons is semi-arid, with a recorded high of 93 degrees F. In the winters, temperatures can plunge to -46 degrees F.
Precipitation
The average rainfall is just 10 inches a year, but precipitation is made up in the heavy winter snowfalls that average 191 inches. Snow commonly lasts from November to April, but sometimes lingers into June.
Formation
The geological structure of the Grand Tetons is an active fault-block mountain front. Earthquakes that occurred along the fault line over the past 13 million years formed the Teton Range.
Jackson Hole Valley
Jackson Hole is a long narrow valley formed by the Teton range and Gros Ventre range. It measures 55 miles long and 6 to 13 miles wide. The valley has an average elevation of 6,800 feet and is perhaps best known for the Jackson Hole ski resort, which offers 116 named ski trails, a 100-passenger aerial tram and a vertical drop of 4,100 feet.
About the Author:
Eulalia Palomo has been a freelance writer since 2009, with her work appearing on various websites. She has studied herbal and alternative medicine and worked as a landscape artist and gardener. Palomo holds a Bachelor of Arts in liberal studies from Boston University.
Photo Credits:
Photo courtesy of Morguefile
