Parting of the Waters

The parting of the waters
Topographic map showing Two Ocean Pass and the Continental Divide (green)[1]

Parting of the Waters is an unusual hydrologic site near Two Ocean Pass on the Great Divide, within the Teton Wilderness Area of Bridger-Teton National Forest, Wyoming, United States. Two Ocean Pass separates the headwaters of Pacific Creek, which flows west to the Pacific Ocean, and Atlantic Creek, which flows east to the Atlantic Ocean. Parting of the Waters is located at 44°02.571′N 110°10.524′W / 44.042850°N 110.175400°W / 44.042850; -110.175400.[2]

History

In 1965, this site received designation as a National Natural Landmark, bearing the official name of "Two Ocean Pass National Natural Landmark".

Geography

North Two Ocean Creek flows down from its drainage on the side of Two Ocean Plateau, and divides its waters roughly equally between its two distributaries, Pacific Creek and Atlantic Creek. From this split, Two Ocean Creek waters flow either 3,488 miles (5,613 km) to the Gulf of Mexico via Atlantic Creek and the Yellowstone, Missouri and Mississippi Rivers, or 1,353 miles (2,177 km) to the Pacific via Pacific Creek and the Snake and Columbia Rivers. At Parting of the Waters, it has been said that a fish could literally swim over the Continential Divide,[3] coming up Pacific Creek, crossing the Divide at Parting of the Waters, then going back down Atlantic Creek (or vice versa). Using an easier route, a fish could also swim over the Continental Divide at nearby Two Ocean Pass, 0.4 miles (0.6 km) southeast of Parting of the Waters, where marsh water covers the Continental Divide. However, the hydrologic uniqueness of Parting of the Waters is that the Continental Divide sits precisely at the separation point of two flowing distributaries (Atlantic and Pacific Creeks), whereas other lakes and marshes sitting on the Continental Divide, such as Two Ocean Pass and Isa Lake in Yellowstone National Park, are more common. It is thought that Two Ocean Pass provided the route for Yellowstone cutthroat trout to migrate from the Snake River (Pacific Ocean) to Yellowstone River (Atlantic) drainages.[4][5]

Inasmuch as North Two Ocean Creek splits into streams that flow separately to the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, the entire drainage of North Two Ocean Creek lies within an area that makes up the "Continental Divide" at this place.[6]

The site is more commonly known as "Parting of the Waters", which is actually about 0.4 miles (0.6 km; 2,000 ft; 600 m) northwest of the low point of Two Ocean Pass, where North Two Ocean Creek emerges from its drainage basin on the side of Two Ocean Plateau.

See also

References

  1. ^ Modified portion of the Two Ocean Pass Quadrangle, Wyoming-Teton Co. USGS Topographic Quadrangle, 1996: Note the 1996 quad does not show a split in the continental divide; however both the 1959 Two Ocean Pass, Wyoming 15-minute quadrangle and the 1982 Yellowstone National Park South, Wyo. 30x60 minute quad do show a split in the continental divide which includes the drainage basins of both North Two Ocean Creek and South Two Ocean Creek. The divide split is 8.7 kilometres (5.4 mi) in length.
  2. ^ Two Ocean Pass, Wyo, 7.5 Minute Quad, US Topo, USGS, 2012
  3. ^ Maughan, Ralph (1981). Beyond the Tetons: A Backpacking Guide to Wyoming's Teton Wilderness. Boulder, CO: Pruett Pub. Co. ISBN 9780871085801.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link)
  4. ^ "NPS: Explore Nature » NNL » Sites". Nature.nps.gov. June 28, 2012. Archived from the original on February 24, 2015. Retrieved February 24, 2015.
  5. ^ "The Popular Science Monthly". New York, Popular Science Pub. Co., etc. 1895. Retrieved February 24, 2015.
  6. ^ Both the USGS 1959 Two Ocean Pass, Wyoming, 15 minute quadrangle and the 1982 Yellowstone National Park South, Wyo., 30×60 minute quadrangle show a split in the continental divide which includes the drainage basins of both North Two Ocean Creek and South Two Ocean Creek. The divide split is 8.7 km (5.4 mi) in length.

Bibliography

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