Two Ocean Pass facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Two Ocean Pass |
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Modified portion of the USGS Two Ocean Pass Quadrangle
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| Elevation | 8,130 ft (2,478 m) |
| Traversed by | North Two Ocean Creek |
| Location | Teton County, Wyoming |
| Range | Absaroka Range |
| Topo map | USGS Two Ocean Pass |
| Designated: | October 1965 |
Two Ocean Pass is a super cool spot in the mountains of Wyoming, USA. It's famous because a single stream of water, called North Two Ocean Creek, splits into two different paths here. This amazing place is known as the Parting of the Waters.
One path sends water towards the Pacific Ocean, and the other sends it towards the Atlantic Ocean! It's like a natural water switch. This special pass is located on the Continental Divide, which is a high ridge that separates rivers flowing to different oceans.
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Two Ocean Pass: Where Rivers Split
This pass is found in the Teton Wilderness, which is part of the Bridger-Teton National Forest in Wyoming. It sits high up in the Absaroka Range of mountains. The most incredible thing about Two Ocean Pass is how water behaves here.
The Amazing Water Journey
At the Parting of the Waters National Natural Landmark, North Two Ocean Creek divides into two smaller streams. These two streams are called Pacific Creek and Atlantic Creek.
- Water from Atlantic Creek flows into the Yellowstone River. From there, it joins the Missouri River and then the mighty Mississippi River. Finally, it empties into the Gulf of Mexico, which is part of the Atlantic Ocean.
- Water from Pacific Creek flows into the Snake River. This river then joins the Columbia River, which eventually empties into the Pacific Ocean.
It's pretty neat to think that a single raindrop falling at Two Ocean Pass could end up in either the Atlantic or the Pacific Ocean!
Exploring Two Ocean Pass
If you love hiking, the Continental Divide Trail passes right through Two Ocean Pass in northern Wyoming. This trail is a long-distance path that follows the Continental Divide.
You can reach this special spot by walking or riding a horse. One way to get there is from the south, starting at the Brooks Lake Trailhead off Highway 287. Another way is from the north, which involves a longer hike from Fox Park, near the southern edge of Yellowstone National Park.
Images for kids
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This drawing from 1894 shows Two Ocean Pass looking towards the northeast. You can see Atlantic Creek leaving the pass between the hills at the top. Pacific Creek goes to the southwest at the bottom. North Two Oceans Creek comes in from the left and splits, and South Two Ocean Creek comes from the right and also splits.
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Here, Two Ocean Creek splits into two directions on the Continental Divide. In this 2011 photo, water on the left goes to the Atlantic Ocean, and water on the right goes to the Pacific Ocean.
