Raynolds Pass facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Raynolds Pass |
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|---|---|
| Elevation | 6,844 ft (2,086 m) |
| Traversed by |  SH 87,  MT 87 |
| Location | Fremont County, Idaho – Madison County, Montana, United States |
| Range | Rocky Mountains |
| Coordinates | 44°42.6′N 111°28.2′W / 44.7100°N 111.4700°W |
Raynolds Pass is a special place high up in the Rocky Mountains. It's a mountain pass, which is like a natural path or gap through mountains. This pass sits right on the border between the states of Montana and Idaho in the United States. It's pretty high up, at about 6,844 feet (or 2,086 meters) above sea level!
What makes Raynolds Pass extra cool is that it's located on the Continental Divide. This is like a giant imaginary line that runs through North America. It separates the rivers and streams that flow towards the Pacific Ocean from those that flow towards the Atlantic Ocean. Even though it's a mountain pass, Raynolds Pass is known for being very gentle. It doesn't have steep climbs or sharp, winding turns. This makes it easy for the state highways (Idaho State Highway 87 and Montana Highway 87) to cross over it.
Exploring Raynolds Pass
Raynolds Pass is a key route for travelers moving between Idaho and Montana. It connects to bigger roads like U.S. Route 287 in Montana and U.S. Route 20 in Idaho. Because it's so gentle, driving through this pass is usually smooth and easy. You won't find any tricky hairpin curves here!
Who Was Raynolds?
The pass is named after Captain William F. Raynolds. He was an important explorer and an officer in the United States Army. In the mid-1800s, he led a big journey called the Raynolds Expedition. This expedition explored the Yellowstone region, which is now famous for Yellowstone National Park. Captain Raynolds and his team helped map out and learn more about this wild part of the American West. Naming the pass after him honors his important work in exploring the area.
The Continental Divide Explained
The Continental Divide is a fascinating natural feature. Imagine a rooftop: rain falling on one side goes one way, and rain falling on the other side goes another. The Continental Divide works similarly for water across a continent. At Raynolds Pass, any rain or snowmelt that falls on the west side will eventually flow towards the Pacific Ocean. Water that falls on the east side will make its way towards the Atlantic Ocean or the Gulf of Mexico. It's a huge natural boundary that shapes how water moves across the land.
