Leigh Canyon
Encyclopedia
Leigh Canyon is located in Grand Teton National Park
, in the U. S. state of Wyoming
. The canyon was formed by glacier
s which retreated at the end of the last glacial maximum
approximately 15,000 years ago, leaving behind a U-shaped valley
. Leigh Canyon is approximately 6 miles (9.7 km) long and is flanked by Mount Moran
and Thor Peak
to the north and Mount Woodring
to the south. The canyon outlet is at Leigh Lake
.
Grand Teton National Park
Grand Teton National Park is a United States National Park located in northwestern Wyoming, U.S. The Park consists of approximately and includes the major peaks of the long Teton Range as well as most of the northern sections of the valley known as Jackson Hole. Only south of Yellowstone...
, in the U. S. state of Wyoming
Wyoming
Wyoming is a state in the mountain region of the Western United States. The western two thirds of the state is covered mostly with the mountain ranges and rangelands in the foothills of the Eastern Rocky Mountains, while the eastern third of the state is high elevation prairie known as the High...
. The canyon was formed by glacier
Glacier
A glacier is a large persistent body of ice that forms where the accumulation of snow exceeds its ablation over many years, often centuries. At least 0.1 km² in area and 50 m thick, but often much larger, a glacier slowly deforms and flows due to stresses induced by its weight...
s which retreated at the end of the last glacial maximum
Last Glacial Maximum
The Last Glacial Maximum refers to a period in the Earth's climate history when ice sheets were at their maximum extension, between 26,500 and 19,000–20,000 years ago, marking the peak of the last glacial period. During this time, vast ice sheets covered much of North America, northern Europe and...
approximately 15,000 years ago, leaving behind a U-shaped valley
U-shaped valley
A U-shaped valley also known as a glacial trough is one formed by the process of glaciation. It has a characteristic U-shape, with steep, straight sides, and a flat bottom. Glaciated valleys are formed when a glacier travels across and down a slope, carving the valley by the action of scouring...
. Leigh Canyon is approximately 6 miles (9.7 km) long and is flanked by Mount Moran
Mount Moran
Mount Moran is a mountain in Grand Teton National Park of western Wyoming, USA. The mountain is named for Thomas Moran, an American western frontier landscape artist. Mount Moran dominates the northern section of the Teton Range rising above Jackson Lake. Several active glaciers exist on the...
and Thor Peak
Thor Peak (Wyoming)
Thor Peak is in the northern Teton Range, Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming. Mount Moran is to the east. The summit is the eighth highest in the Teton Range. Several semi permanent snowfields as well as the Triple Glaciers are located on the east and northern slopes of the mountain...
to the north and Mount Woodring
Mount Woodring
Mount Woodring is located in the Teton Range, Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming. The mountain is immediately west of Leigh Lake and is sandwiched between Paintbrush Canyon to the south and Leigh Canyon to the north. The best access to the summit is from Paintbrush Divide along the Paintbrush...
to the south. The canyon outlet is at Leigh Lake
Leigh Lake
Leigh Lake is located in Grand Teton National Park, in the U. S. state of Wyoming. The glacially formed lake is wide and slightly longer in length from north to south. Situated just southeast of Mount Moran, the lake is at the terminus of both Paintbrush and Leigh Canyons...
.