Moran in Teton County, Wyoming — The American West (Mountains)
Young, Restless, and Still Rising
Grand Teton National Park
Photographed By Bill Coughlin, July 25, 2015
1. Young, Restless, and Still Rising Marker
Imagine the Teton Range and the valley in front of you like two parts of a giant hinge. The Earth’s crust stretches and breaks into two blocks along the 40-mile-long Teton fault. Fractures generate large earthquakes along the fault. The western block hinges up and becomes the Teton Range.
The eastern block tilts down and forms the valley. As the mountain rise, wind, water, and ice wear down the jagged skyline and erode away sandstone and limestone layers except for small outcrops. The landscape continues to change. Geoscientists predict future earthquakes up to a 7.5 magnitude.
Old Rocks, New Range
The Teton Range is composed of some of the oldest rocks on Earth, but the mountain range is one of the youngest in North America. The stretching-cracking-tilting that formed the Tetons began only nine million years ago. In contrast, geologic forces squeezed the Earth’s crust and thrust up the Rockies over 70 million years ago.
Erected by National Park Service.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Natural Features.
Location. 43° 52.383′ N, 110° 34.431′ W. Marker is in Moran, Wyoming, in Teton County. Marker is on Teton Park Road, on the right when traveling south
this page online
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 4 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. The Teton Range (within shouting distance of this marker); Jackson Lake Lodge (approx. 0.4 miles away); A New Era (approx. 0.4 miles away); Grand Teton National Park (approx. 0.4 miles away); 11,000 Summers in the Tetons (approx. 1.4 miles away); Cattleman's Bridge (approx. 1.6 miles away); Valley View (approx. 1.9 miles away); John Colter (approx. 4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Moran.
More about this marker. The bottom of the marker contains a picture of the landscape visible from the marker, and includes Grand Teton, Mount Moran and Jackson Lake. Also present is an illustration showing the location of the Teton Fault in relation to Mount Moran.
Photographed By Bill Coughlin, July 25, 2015
2. Young, Restless, and Still Rising Marker
Photographed By Bill Coughlin, July 25, 2015
3. Marker in Grand Teton National Park
Photographed By Bill Coughlin, July 25, 2015
4. Teton Range Seen from the Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on March 29, 2021. It was originally submitted on September 5, 2015, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. This page has been viewed 479 times since then and 13 times this year. Last updated on March 28, 2021, by Connor Olson of Kewaskum, Wisconsin. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on September 5, 2015, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.
