Editing Teton Range (section)

==Geology==
{{Main|Geology of the Grand Teton area}}
Between six and nine million years ago, stretching and thinning of the [[Earth's crust]] caused movement along the Teton [[Geologic fault|fault]]. The west block along the fault line rose to form the Teton Range, creating the youngest mountain range in the Rocky Mountains. The fault's east block fell to form the valley called [[Jackson Hole]]. The geological processes that led to the current composition of the oldest rocks in the Teton Range began about 2.5 billion years ago. At that time, sand and volcanic debris settled into an ancient ocean. Additional sediment was deposited for millions of years and eventually heat and pressure metamorphosed the sediment into [[gneiss]]. 

Subsequently, magma was forced up through the cracks in the gneiss to form [[granite]], anywhere from inches to hundreds of feet thick. Other intrusive igneous rocks are noticeable as the black [[Dike (geology)|dike]]s of [[diabase]], visible on the southwest face of [[Mount Moran]] and on the [[Grand Teton]]. Starting during the [[Cambrian]] period, deep deposits of sedimentary rock were deposited in shallow seas over the metamorphic basement rocks. Erosion and uplift have exposed the metamorphic and intrusive igneous rocks now visible on the east slope of the range and in the [[Cathedral Group]] and the [[Paleozoic]] and [[Cenozoic]] sedimentary rocks on the west slope. As recently as 2.1 million years ago the [[Huckleberry Ridge Tuff]] was deposited along the west slope of the north part of the range.

[[Image:Barns grand tetons.jpg|right|thumb|280px|The Teton Range rises dramatically above [[Mormon Row Historic District|Mormon Row]].]]
[[File:Jenny lake and Grand Tetons.png|thumb|Grand Tetons in 1921]]
One reason the Teton Range is famous is because of the dramatic elevation profile visible from the eastern side, which rises sharply from {{convert|4,000|to(-)|7,000|ft|m}} above the valley floor. Unlike most mountain ranges, the east side of the Teton Range lacks significant [[foothills]] or lower peaks which might obscure the view. This is due to the presence of the [[Teton Fault]] at the base of the east slope as well as the range being too young to have eroded into soft hills. The [[Snake River]] flows southward through the valley before turning to the west and entering Idaho.

[[File:Tetons-from-national-elk-refuge-march-2024.jpg|thumb|The Teton Range as seen from the National Elk Refuge, March 2024.]]