The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1873-09-16
The Great Water Divide. 1.

1t Is stated IN the sixth annual report
Of the United States Geological Survey
of the territories, by +. V. Hayden, Uni.
ted States Geologist, that there is per-
hsps no more unknown or more interest.
ing geographical region in America than
the different branches of the Snake river
and the Madison--the great water divide
Of the continent. The maps now in pro.
cess of construction will almost entirely
change the geography Of this wonderful
region. Within radius of ten miles
may be found the sources of three of the
largest rivers in America. The general
elevation is from 1000 to 5000 feet a.
bove the sea, while the mountains, whose
eternal SHOWS form the sources of these
great rivers, rise to height of 10000
to 10000 feet. Flowing northward are
the various branches Of the Missouri,
Yellowstone and Wind rivers, which all
unite eventually into one mighty stream,
the Missouri. To the south are the
branches of Green river, which unites
with the Colorado, and empties into the
Gulf of California while south and west
flow the branches of Snake river, which,
uniting with the Columbia, pour their
vast volume of water into the Pacific.
The exploration of this remarkable
water divide proves that the Madison
Fork has its source in small lake not
hitherto noted on any map, and that the
so.called Madison lake belongs entirely
on the Pacific slope. This latter lake
was found to be about twelve miles
long and eight miles wide. From this
body of water flows a stream nearly 100
feet wide, which after distance of about
five miles, empties into secand lake,
which is four miles long and one and a
half miles wide. The former of these
lakes was Lamed Shoshone, and the latter
lake Lewis, in honor of the great pio.
neer explorer of the northwest AT the
upper end Of Lake Shoshone new gey-
ser basin was discovered with from IS to
100 springs, many Of them geysers of
considerable power. The ornamentation
about these springs was regarded as more
interesting and elaborate than those 10
Five Hole Basin. The divide between
the Yellowstone lake and Lake Lewis
was found to be about fifty feet above the
former. and 900 feet abnvo the latter.
This low ridge in the great water divide
Of the continent has doubtless given rise
to the story OF the Two Ocean river, and
such stream has found its way to most
Of our printed maps.
From the summit Of the mountain the
scope or vision embraced a radius of one
hundred and fifty miles, within which four
hundred and seventy mountain peaks
worthy Of name could be distinctly OBJ.
served. The area that could be swept by
the eye from this point could not have
been less than fifty thousand square miles
embracing every variety of grand and
beautiful scenery of mountain and valley
probably without parallel on the cont.
nent. Ten large lakes and several small
er ones were embraced in the view, and
the entire Yellowstone Park was spread
out under the eye. To the east Vino
river and Big Horn ranges, with the
snow.clad submits OF Fremont's, Unior
and Cloud Peaks bounded the view. Or
the north the Yellowstone range, with
Emigrant Peak, and many of the lofties
mountains Of Montana were clearly seen
To the west tho numerous ranges com
prised in what are called the Salmon riv
er mountains of Idaho form the horizon
Of vision in that direction, while tn,
mountains near Fort Hall and the Wah
satch range completed the mighty amphi
theatre. This remarkable view embraced
a large portion of Wyoming, Montana
Idaho and Utah territories. About fort,
small streams, which unite and form tn,
upper portion of Snake river, were care
fully examined.
The party then proceeded down th
valley Of Snake river, through its re
narkabe canyons, examining Jackson
Lake and the numerous streams that emp
ty into the main river on either side.