The Tetons’ Snake River and Jackson Lake

August 07, 2018

JacksonLake_Grand-Teton (2)

Photographer: Farmakopoulos Antonis  
Summary Author: Farmakopoulos Antonis 

The Snake River, its reflective ponds, and nearby Jackson Lake offer striking complements to the magnificent peaks of Wyoming’s Grand Teton National Park. Though Jackson Lake near here is a natural body of water, it was enlarged by the construction of the Jackson Lake Dam in 1911. At approximately 15 mi (24 km) long, 7 mi (11 km) wide and 438 ft (134 m) deep, it's the fourth largest (by volume) lake in Wyoming.

The remnant of gouging by glaciers from the neighboring Teton Range (shown in the background) and from the Yellowstone Plateau, Jackson Lake is primarily fed by the Snake River. At an elevation of 6,772 ft (2,064 m) above sea level, it's one of the biggest high altitude lakes in the United States. If you intend to take a swim on a hot August day, be prepared; water temperatures average below 60 F (16 C), even in mid-summer. Photo taken on August 18, 2017.

Photo Details: Canon EOS 6D camera; ISO 100; f/3.5; 1/4000 sec. exposure.