Grand Teton National Park
Grand Teton National Pak was established in 1929; Jackson Hole National Monument was created in 1943. The two units were combined to become the present Grand Teton National Park in 1950. The park is 45 miles in length from north to south, 26 maximum width. Grand Teton is famous for spectacular mountain scenery and wildlife. Park boundaries include approximately 310,000 acres, 485 square miles.
John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Memorial Parkway was established in 1972 to commemorate the philanthropic activities of John D. Rockefeller, Jr. and his generous donations of lands to the National Park System. The parkway connecting Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks contains 23,700 acres. The Parkway is managed as a recreation area under the administration of Grand Teton National Park.
TETON RANGE: An active fault-block mountain front, 40 miles long, 7-9 miles wide. Highest peak: Grand Teton, elevation 13,770 feet. Eight peaks over 12,000 ft in elevation.
JACKSON HOLE: Mountain valley, 55 miles long, 13 miles wide, average elevation 6,800 feet. Lowest elevation: south park boundary, 6350 feet.
SNAKE RIVER: Headwaters of the Columbia River system. Major tributaries: Pacific Creek, Buffalo Fork, and Gros Ventre River.
LAKES: Seven morainal lakes at the base of the Teton Range: Jackson, Leigh, Jenny, Bradley, Taggart, and Phelps. Jackson Lake = 25,540 acres, maximum depth = 438 feet. Over 100 alpine and backcountry lakes.
WILDLIFE:
22 species of rodents
17 species of carnivores (Black and grizzly bears)
6 species of hoofed mammals
3 species of rabbits/hares
6 species of bats
4 species of reptiles (non poisonous)
5 species of amphibians
16 species of fish
300 species of birds
Numerous invertebrates (no poisonous spiders)
FLORA:
7 species of coniferous trees
900 species of flowering plants
HUMAN HISTORY: Human history in the park includes the activities of Paleo-Indian, Native Americans, fur trappers, homesteaders, ranchers and farmers, conservationists and recreationists.
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