Grand Teton National Park in Teton County, Wyoming — The American West (Mountains)
Teton Fault
Grand Teton National Park
Photographed by Bill Coughlin, July 25, 2015
1. Teton Fault Marker
Looking west toward Mount St. John, notice the steep slope or fault scarp near the base of the peak. This steep slope formed as several massive earthquakes broke the ground by more than 75 feet since the ice-aged glaciers last retreated 14,000 years ago. The Teton fault began moving roughly nine million years ago generating earthquakes that shook the landscape.
Each earthquake, up to a magnitude 7.5, lifted the mountain block one part for every three to four parts that the valley block dropped building the range one step at a time. Future earthquakes will continue to shape this landscape but the geoscientists cannot predict when this will happen.
An earthquake occurs when two blocks of the Earths crust slip past one another along a crack called a fault. During larger earthquakes, the fault breaks the Earths surface forming a vertical escarpment or scarp providing lasting evidence that an earthquake occurred. With time, erosion degrades the scarp leaving behind a more gentle slope.
Erected by National Park Service.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Natural Features.
Location. 43° 47.635′ N, 110° 41.796′ W. Marker is in Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming, in Teton
this page online
Regionally, this marker is in the Jackson Hole Area and in Greater Yellowstone. It is also in the American Mountain West. Globally, it is in North America, the Rocky Mountains, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 4 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: The Cathedral Group (approx. 0.9 miles away); a different marker also named The Cathedral Group (approx. 0.9 miles away); Cascade Canyon (approx. 1.6 miles away); Fault Scarp (approx. 1.9 miles away); Jenny Lake (approx. 2.1 miles away); Mount Moran (approx. 2.8 miles away); Ranger Station (approx. 3.2 miles away); Wonderfully Grand (approx. 3.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Grand Teton National Park.
More about this marker. A photograph of Mount Moran showing the Teton Fault Scarp appears on the left side of the marker. An illustration at the bottom left of the marker indicates the position of the Teton Fault in relation to Grand Teton, Mount St. John and Mount Moran.
Photographed by Bill Coughlin, July 25, 2015
2. Teton Fault Marker
Photographed by Bill Coughlin, July 25, 2015
3. Marker in Grand Teton National Park
Credits. This page was last revised on November 21, 2024. It was originally submitted on September 5, 2015, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. This page has been viewed 683 times since then and 35 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on September 5, 2015, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey.
