Jackson Hole
Jackson Hole is a valley in Wyoming, USA. It is located in the Rocky Mountains and is bordered by the Teton Range in the west and the Gros Ventre Range to the south and east. In the north of the Gros Ventre Range merges into the Absaroka Range. Through the valley of the upper reaches of the Snake River attracts.
The valley was 13-9 million years ago in the development of the Basin and Range Province by the Teton Fault in North-South direction. On the western side of the fracture crustal block was tilted up, it is the present day Tetonkette with its steep eastern and gentle west flank. The eastern part of the crustal block sagged, however, and today forms the valley of Jackson Hole. The difference in height between the raised peaks and the valley floor was originally about 10000-11000 meters. The erosion reduced the height of the Teton Range. The removed material -filled Jackson Hole partially. Today there are 2100 m between the top of the Grand Tetons and the valley floor.
Indians used the valley for hunting and for ceremonial purposes, it was not inhabited by whites and inhabited throughout the year before 1870. Was named the valley after David E. Jackson, a trapper and fur traders in the region for the Rocky Mountain Fur Company in the early nineteenth century beaver and other fur-bearing animals hunted. Get the name (English for hole ) gave him trappers who entered the valley coming mainly from the north and west, had to climb down a relatively steep slope.
The valley is situated mostly in Grand Teton National Park, in the south lies the National Elk Refuge, pull into the thousands Wapiti deer for the winter. In the southeast of the town of Jackson, which thrives on tourism and is reputed to have preserved the traditional cowboy way of life is. There are also several ski resorts.
The valley is accessed in a north-south direction through the bundled running U.S. Highways 26, 89 and 191. In the southwest of the small Wyoming State Route 22 crosses the Teton Range from the valley. In the north of U.S. Highway 287 opens up access to the prairies to the west.