Two Ocean Pass
{{Short description|Mountain pass in Wyoming, US}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox mountain pass
| name = Two Ocean Pass
| map =
| photo = Two Ocean Pass USGS Topo.png
| photo_caption = Modified portion of the USGS Two Ocean Pass QuadrangleTwo Ocean Pass Quadrangle, Wyoming-Teton Co. USGS Topographic Quadrangle, 1996: Note the 1996 quad does not show a split in the continental divide; however both the 1959 Two Ocean Pass, Wyoming 15 minute quadrangle and the 1982 Yellowstone National Park South, Wyo. 30x60 minute quad do show a split in the continental divide which includes the drainage basins of both North Two Ocean Creek and South Two Ocean Creek. The divide split is {{convert|8.7|km}} in length.
| elevation_ft = 8130
| elevation_ref = {{cite gnis|id= 1603845 |name=Two Ocean Pass|accessdate=February 19, 2011}}
| traversed = North Two Ocean Creek
| location = Teton County, Wyoming
| range = Absaroka Range
| coordinates = {{coord|44|02|33|N|110|10|30|W|type:pass|display=title}}
| topo = USGS Two Ocean Pass
| embedded = {{designation list |embed=yes |designation1=NNL |designation1_date=October 1965}}
}}
Two Ocean Pass is a mountain pass on North America's Continental Divide, in the Teton Wilderness, which is part of Wyoming's Bridger-Teton National Forest. The pass is notable for Parting of the Waters, where one stream, North Two Ocean Creek, splits into two distributaries, Pacific Creek and Atlantic Creek, at Parting of the Waters National Natural Landmark. These two creeks ultimately flow into their respective oceans.[https://www.nps.gov/subjects/nnlandmarks/site.htm?Site=TWOC-WY Two Ocean Pass, National Natural Landmarks] Atlantic Creek water eventually flows into the Yellowstone River and empties into the Gulf of Mexico via the Missouri River and Mississippi River. Pacific Creek water eventually flows into the Snake River and empties into the Pacific via the Columbia River.
Recreation
The Continental Divide Trail reaches this location in northern Wyoming. It is accessible by foot or horseback from the south via Brooks Lake Trail head off of Highway 287 or from the north via an extensive hike from Fox Park near Yellowstone National Park's southern border.{{Cite book|title = Wyoming's Continental Divide Trail|last = Davis|first = Lora|publisher = Westcliffe Publishers, Inc.|year = 2000|isbn = 1-56579-332-3|pages = 242–249}}
Fish dispersal
The pass is thought to have provided access for the Yellowstone cutthroat trout to have colonized Yellowstone Lake and the rest of the Yellowstone River watershed above Lower Falls.{{cite web |last1=Carlson |first1=Annie |title=Two Ocean Pass—A place where fish can swim over the Continental Divide! |url=https://www.usgs.gov/observatories/yvo/news/two-ocean-pass-place-where-fish-can-swim-over-continental-divide |website=usgs.gov |access-date=March 22, 2022}} Similarly, it has been considered as an alternative explanation for the arrival of non-native lake trout in Yellowstone Lake, which has traditionally been attributed to illegal or accidental stocking.{{cite journal |last1=Koel |first1=Todd M. |last2=Detjens |first2=Colleen R. |last3=Zale |first3=Alexander V. |title=Two Ocean Pass: An alternative hypothesis for the invasion of Yellowstone Lake by lake trout, and implications for future invasions |journal=Water |date=2020 |volume=12 |issue=6 |page=1629 |doi=10.3390/w12061629 |doi-access=free }}
Climate
Two Ocean Plateau has a subarctic climate (Köppen Dfc).
{{Weather box
|location = Two Ocean Plateau, Wyoming, 1991–2020 normals: 9240ft (2816m)
|single line = Yes
|Jan high F = 24.8
|Feb high F = 28.7
|Mar high F = 36.4
|Apr high F = 42.7
|May high F = 51.1
|Jun high F = 58.1
|Jul high F = 66.9
|Aug high F = 65.8
|Sep high F = 56.4
|Oct high F = 43.1
|Nov high F = 30.1
|Dec high F = 22.3
|year high F =
|Jan mean F = 16.1
|Feb mean F = 17.8
|Mar mean F = 24.2
|Apr mean F = 30.0
|May mean F = 39.0
|Jun mean F = 45.9
|Jul mean F = 53.8
|Aug mean F = 52.9
|Sep mean F = 44.8
|Oct mean F = 33.1
|Nov mean F = 21.3
|Dec mean F = 14.3
|year mean F =
|Jan low F = 7.3
|Feb low F = 6.8
|Mar low F = 11.9
|Apr low F = 17.4
|May low F = 26.8
|Jun low F = 33.6
|Jul low F = 40.7
|Aug low F = 39.9
|Sep low F = 33.0
|Oct low F = 23.0
|Nov low F = 12.5
|Dec low F = 6.3
|year low F =
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation inch = 4.65
|Feb precipitation inch = 4.28
|Mar precipitation inch = 4.71
|Apr precipitation inch = 4.33
|May precipitation inch = 3.77
|Jun precipitation inch = 3.23
|Jul precipitation inch = 1.41
|Aug precipitation inch = 1.57
|Sep precipitation inch = 2.21
|Oct precipitation inch = 3.33
|Nov precipitation inch = 4.51
|Dec precipitation inch = 5.02
|year precipitation inch =
{{cite web
|url = https://xmacis.rcc-acis.org/
|publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
|title = xmACIS2
|access-date = October 14, 2023
}}
|source 2 = NOAA (Precipitation)
{{cite web
|url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&startDate=0001-01-01&endDate=9996-12-31&stations=USS0010E17S&format=pdf
|title= Two Ocean Plateau, Wyoming 1991-2020 Monthly Normals
|access-date = October 14, 2023
}}
}}
Gallery
File:PSM V47 D187 Two ocean pass looking east.jpg|A drawing made in 1894 of Two Ocean Pass with a view to the northeast.[https://archive.org/stream/popularsciencemo47newy#page/n183/mode/2up Barton Warren Evermann: Two-Ocean Pass. In: Popular Science Monthly. V. 47, 1895, pp. 175–186] Atlantic Creek exits the pass between the hills in the upper center part of the image. Pacific Creek exits to the southwest in the bottom center of the image. North Two Oceans Creek enters from the left top center of the image and divides into its two distributaries and South Two Ocean Creek enters from the right center of the image and is also shown dividing into two streams. Evermann Creek also enters the area from the west (left center, just above the tents).
File:Two oceans parting.JPG|Here Two Ocean Creek splits in two directions on the Continental Divide. Water on the left in this 2011 photo goes to the Atlantic and water on the right to the Pacific Ocean.
See also
Committee's Punch Bowl, a small lake on the Continental Divide between British Columbia and Alberta, which drains to both the Arctic and Pacific Oceans.
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.nps.gov/subjects/nnlandmarks/site.htm?Site=TWOC-WY Two Ocean Pass National Natural Landmark], National Park Service website.
- {{Gnis|1603845}}
{{Commons category}}
{{authority control}}
Category:Mountain passes of Wyoming
Category:National Natural Landmarks in Wyoming
Category:Great Divide of North America
Category:Protected areas of Teton County, Wyoming