Moran in Teton County, Wyoming — The American West (Mountains)
Teton Fault
Grand Teton National Park
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 Earth’s crust slip past one another along a crack called a fault. During larger earthquakes, the fault breaks the Earth’s 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 Moran, Wyoming, in Teton County. Marker is on Teton Park Road, on the right when traveling south. Marker is located in the Mountain View Turnout in Grand Teton National Park. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Moran WY 83013, United States of America. Touch for directions.
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); The Park’s First Visitor Area (approx. 3.2 miles away); The Crandall Studio (approx. 3.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Moran.
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.
Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on September 5, 2015, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. This page has been viewed 363 times since then and 8 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on September 5, 2015, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey.