PARTING OF THE WATERS

23 January 2015: OK - this is not exactly maritime but it does have to do with water, albeit fresh, but the saving grace is that what we're going to be talking about gets us to salt water. This is pretty amazing - at least to me - and I thought there might be some of you out there that would find it so also.
Here's the deal: there is a creek/river/stream that actually divides the United States in half and connects the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic. And you thought the only way that happened was the Panama Canal... well, not so much, it would seem.
 

In the Teton Wilderness of the Bridger-Teton National Forest (Wyoming) is a creek, quite unremarkable, that has quite remarkable hydrological properties: on the Continental Divide, at Two Ocean Pass, the creek splits into two streams. One flows to the left and goes to the Pacific Ocean (eventually) and the other goes to the right, reaching ... yep, the Atlantic. Of course, each joins up with other streams or rivers to reach the final destination, but this it where it begins.

 

 

In theory, it is possible for a fish to make the roughly 7,500 miles from the Pacific to the Atlantic Ocean, and is believed (please don't ask me by whom - I have idea!) that it was by this route that the cut throat trout migrated from the Snake River (that's on the Pacific drainage side) to the Yellowstone River, and yes, that would be on the Atlantic side.

 

The site of the split in the streams was named a National Natural Landmark in 1965 and was given the official name of Two Ocean Pass National Natural Landmark. Parting of the Waters is just a quarter mile northwest of the Pass.

 

And now you can dazzle your friends with your brilliance, unless they read this in which case, your cover will be blown! And thanks to my good pal Hank Gulick for suggesting this as a worthy topic. If it's not, blame him!

 

                            Fair Winds,

                                Old Salt