Shoshoni in Fremont County, Wyoming — The American West (Mountains)
Geology of the Wind River Canyon
The Wind River Canyon provides a unique slice through geologic time. While driving through the canyon, you can see rocks that were deposited when life was beginning and when Wyoming was covered by a sea with a tropical climate similar to the Gulf of Mexico today.
Over the last 100 million years, the Owl Creek Mountains were uplifted, folded, faulted and then eroded by the Wind River to form this spectacular canyon. Because the rocks were folded and tilted from a horizontal to a slight angle toward the north, you will drive past geologic formations from Precambrian (nearly 2.9 billion years old) to Triassic (over 200 million years old) in age, spanning a time period of over 2.7 billion years. Rock types including granite, basalt, metamorphosed volcanic rocks (amphibolite and schist), limestone, dolomite, sandstone, siltstone and shale are exposed in these outcrops.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Natural Features.
Location. 43° 24.671′ N, 108° 10.469′ W. Marker is in Shoshoni, Wyoming, in Fremont County. Marker is on U.S. 20, on the right when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Shoshoni WY 82649, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 7 other markers are within 13 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Boysen Dam and Reservoir Today (here, next to this marker); Wind River Canyon (a few steps from this marker); “Wild Sheep and Wild Fire” (a few steps from this marker); Site of Original Boysen Dam (approx. 2.1 miles away); Boysen's Historic Dam (approx. 2.2 miles away); Wedding of the Waters (approx. 12.4 miles away); a different marker also named Wedding of the Waters (approx. 12˝ miles away).
More about this marker. A chart at the top of the marker lists Geologic Events, Periods, Formations and Rock Types.
Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on September 3, 2015, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. This page has been viewed 909 times since then and 49 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on September 3, 2015, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey.