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The Middle Rockies ecoregion is characterized by steep, high-elevation mountain ranges and intermountain valleys. This is a disjunct ecoregion composed of three separate geographic areas, together which covers approximately 34,881 square miles. These three geographic areas are located in four states of Idaho, Montana, Wyoming and South Dakota, each of which are bordered by several different ecoregions.
1. Western Area
The Western Area, the largest section of the three, includes the Yellowstone area in northwest Wyoming, southwest Montana, and eastern Idaho. The Western area abuts the Great Plains (4C) and the Northern Rockies (3F) Ecoregions and the Foothills and Plains (5C) Ecoregion to the north. To the east is the Northern Great Plains (4C) ecoregion. To the south and west is the Snake River Basin (2H) ecoregion. To the south and east is the Wyoming Basin (3H) ecoregion.
2. Middle Area
The Middle Area includes the Bighorn Mountains in north-central Wyoming and south-central Montana. The Bighorn Mountains area lies between the Wyoming Basin (3H) Ecoregion to the west and the Northwestern Great Plains (4C) Ecoregion to the east and north.
3. Eastern Area
The Eastern Area includes the Black Hills in western South Dakota and eastern Wyoming. The Black Hills area is entirely surrounded by the Northwestern Great Plains Ecoregion.
Continental Divide
The
Continental Divide crosses into this ecoregion from the north of Montana, then along the Montana-Idaho border until it enters Wyoming and Yellowstone National park, where it traverses in a southeast direction and exits the park into the Teton Wildernes. Then the divide continue in a southward direction, then southeast again across the Wind River range, then over South Pass for a short distance until the divide leaves the South Rockies ecoregion and enters the Wyoming Basin ecoregion when it skirts around the Great Divide Basin of the Continental Divide.
Climate
On both sides of the divide, topographic relief causes local climate variability, particularly the effects of aspect, exposure to prevailing wind, thermal inversions, and rain-shadow effects, that are reflected in the wide variety of flora and fauna within the ecoregion.
The climate of the Middle Rockies ecoregion lacks the strong maritime influence found in the Northern Rockies (3F). Many mountain-fed, perennial streams occur and differentiate the intermontane valleys from the Northwest Great Plains (4C).
Mountains have Douglas-fir, subalpine fir, and Engelmann spruce forests, as well as some large alpine areas. Pacific tree species are not dominant and forests often have open canopies. Foothills are partly wooded or shrub and grass covered. Intermontane valleys are grass covered and/or shrub covered and contain a mosaic of terrestrial and aquatic fauna that is distinct from the nearby mountains.
Common land uses include: recreation, logging, mining, and summer livestock grazing.
Geographical Region
Rocky Mountains Region, Wyoming
Middle Rockies Ecoregion
There were many tribes both in their recent history and during the past thousands of years, who are believed to have explored the Middle Rockies ecoregion in Wyoming and utilized this area for its abundant resources. In fact, some of the modern trails frequented by hikers within the Yellowstone park are believed to be paths from the steps of the indigenous people dating all the way back thousands of years ago, after humans first crossed the land bridge and appeared in the North American archeological record.
Some of the tribes arrive in this area after crossing during the first migration. These included the
Blackfoot, descendants of the sons of
Obal and who migrated south from their northern areas. Also, the Cayuse, Coeur d′Alene, Nez Perce were decendants of the sons of
Hadoram who migrated westward from the west coastal areas.
The
Kiowa and the Tukudika band of the
Shoshone came later, after crossing during the second major migration.
Yellowstone Campgrounds
Belle Fourche Campground, Wyoming
Mountain Ranges
The Teton Range is in Wyoming, just south of Yellowstone National Park. It extends for approximately 40 miles in a north–south direction through the western edge of Wyoming and just east of the Idaho state line. Much of this range is within Grand Teton National Park.
The principal summits of the central massif, sometimes referred to as the Cathedral Group, are Grand Teton (13,775 feet), Mount Owen (12,928 feet), Teewinot (12,325 feet), Middle Teton (12,804 feet) and South Teton (12,514 feet).
Other peaks in the range include Mount Moran (12,605 feet), Mount Wister (11,490 feet), Buck Mountain (11,938 feet) and Static Peak (11,303 feet).
It is likely that the local Shoshone people once called the whole range Teewinot, meaning many pinnacles.
Wind River Range
The Wind River range in western Wyoming extends roughly northwest to southeast for about 100 miles and the continental divide follows the crest of this range. This ranges has Gannett Peak (13,810) as the high point both of the range and in the state.
Other high peaks include: Fremont Peak (13,750) and more than forty more named peaks in excess of 12,999 feet. With the exception of the Grand Teton in the Teton Range, the next 19 highest peaks in Wyoming after Gannett are also in the Wind River range.
Gannett Peak is in the Bridger Wilderness of the Bridger-Teton National Forest.
Yellowstone National Park
Devils Tower National Monument
Pathway Journeys:
Footpath Journeys
Roadpath Journeys
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