Fall At OxBow Bend is a photograph by Kathleen Struckle which was uploaded on February 9th, 2013.
Title
Fall At OxBow Bend
Artist
Kathleen Struckle
Medium
Photograph - Photography
Description
OxBow bend Grand Teton National Park,Wyoming
Oxbow Bend
This peaceful spot overlooks a quiet backwater left by the Snake River when it cut a new southern channel. White pelicans stop here on their spring migration (many stay on through summer), sandhill cranes and trumpeter swans visit frequently, and great blue herons nest amid the cottonwoods along the river. Use binoculars to search for bald eagles, ospreys, moose, beaver, and otter. The Oxbow is known for the reflection of Mt. Moran that marks its calm waters in early morning.
The peaks of the Teton Range, regal and imposing as they stand nearly 7,000 feet above the valley floor, make one of the boldest geologic statements in the Rockies. Unencumbered by foothills, they rise through steep coniferous forest into alpine meadows strewn with wildflowers, past blue and white glaciers to naked granite pinnacles. The Grand, Middle, and South Tetons form the heart of the range. But their neighbors, especially Mount Owen, Teewinot Mountain, and Mount Moran, are no less spectacular.
A string of jewel-like lakes, fed by mountain streams, are set tightly against the steep foot of the mountains. Beyond them extends the broad valley called Jackson Hole, covered with sagebrush and punctuated by occasional forested buttes and groves of aspen trees�excellent habitats for pronghorn, deer, elk, and other animals. The Snake River, having begun its journey in southern Yellowstone National Park near the Teton Wilderness, winds leisurely past the Tetons on its way to Idaho. The braided sections of the river create wetlands that support moose, elk, deer, beavers, trumpeter swans, sandhill cranes, Canada geese, and all sorts of ducks.
The Tetons are normal faultblock mountains. About 13 million years ago, two blocks of Earth's crust began to shift along a fault line, one tilting down while the other lifted up. So far, movement has measured some 30,000 vertical feet, most of it from the subsidence of Jackson Hole.
Before Europeans arrived, the Teton area was an important plant-gathering and hunting ground for Indians of various tribes. In the early 1800s, mountain men spent time here; it was they who called this flat valley ringed by mountains Jackson's Hole after the trapper Davey Jackson. (In recent times the name has lost its apostrophe and s.) The first settlers were ranchers and farmers. Some of their buildings are historic sites today, although ranching is still practiced in the vicinity. When the park was established, it included only the mountains and the glacial lakes at their feet. Portions of the valley were added in 1950.
Today the park's 485 square miles encompass both the Teton Range and much of Jackson Hole. Park roads, all in the valley, offer an ever changing panorama of the Tetons. Most visitors never go far from the road. But the Tetons are popular with hikers; backcountry trails climb high into the mountains�and behind them. Easy trails in the valley lead around lakes and beside wetlands where visitors see moose, elk, deer, and all kinds of birds.
Featured in 12345 Group,Nature Photography,Artist of Western New York
Uploaded
February 9th, 2013
More from Kathleen Struckle
Comments (210)
Kathleen Struckle
Thank you Nina for the feature in Art Is Good For You Group. I am honored and I appreciate this very much 1/16/2019
Kathleen Struckle
Thank you Doug for the feature in Nikon Full Frame Camera Group. I am honored and I appreciate this very much 8/26/2018
Kathleen Struckle
Thank you Jan for the feature in Art for Ever With you Group. I am honored and I appreciate this very much
Jan Mulherin
Congratulations!! This beautiful image has been selected to be featured for the week in the “Art for Ever with You” Group Home Page. You are welcome to add a preview of this featured image to the group’s discussion post titled “2018 July: Stunning Group Featured Images and Thank-you’s” for a permanent display within the group, to share this achievement with others. If the activity is allowed, your image will also be posted to our group Google+ page. Thank you for your participation in the group! ~Jan (July 7, 2018)
Kathleen Struckle
Thank you Carole for the feature in World Landscape Lover of Art Group. I am honored and I appreciate this very much 6/30/2018
Luther Fine Art
Congratulations! Your fantastic photographic art has been chosen as a Camera Art! You are invited to archive your work in the Features Archive thread! group as well as any other thread in which it would fit!
Kathleen Struckle replied:
Thank you Pamela for the feature in Camera Art Group. I am honored and I appreciate this very much.
Kathleen Struckle
Thank you Cheryle for the feature in Vacations Group. 6/7/2018 I am honored and I appreciate this very much 6/7/2018
Kathleen Struckle
Thank you Rebecca for the feature in Pin Me Daily Group. . I am very honored and I appreciate this very much.
Kathleen Struckle
Thank you Rachel for the feature in Beauty in Art and Photography in the USA. I appreciate this very much
Kathleen Struckle
Top finisher in Favorite Vacation Locations Contest 5/2015 Thank you for the votes
Julie Ketchman
So very soft and beautiful ~ congratulations on capturing "Fall At Oxbow Bend" (l/f/v)
John Bailey
Congratulations on being featured in the Fine Art America Group "Images That Excite You!"
Kathleen Struckle replied:
Thank you John for the feature in Images That Excite You Group. I appreciate this very much
Beauty For God
Your colors are fascinating! Question: Am I picking up several streak marks on your image? 1. through one of the peaks. 2. one in the lower left corner?
Jeff Folger
Love it and added to the 1000 views on one image group and featured! L & F also with a tweet to 17,000 followers
Kathleen Struckle replied:
Thank you Jeff for the feature. I truly appreciate this. 1000 Vies on one image Group