The Great Divide Basin EarthCache
Hidden : 1/23/2008
Difficulty:
1 out of 5
Terrain:
1 out of 5

Size: Size: not chosen (not chosen)

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Geocache Description:


The Great Divide Basin comprises an area of approximately 3,900 square miles in the south-central portion of Wyoming. It is characterized by bluffs, sand dunes, alkali flats, ephemeral streams, permanent and playa lakes, and scrub vegetation (mostly sagebrush and saltbrush). Enclosed by a split in the Continental Divide, this is an area which has no outlet, and precipitation only leaves by way of evaporation or sinking into small shallow lakes. The Great Divide Basin forms when the Continental Divide splits near Bridger Pass, about 20 miles southwest of Rawlins. One part of the divide trends north-northwest, while the other trends west. It becomes a single divide again near South Pass.

Due to this split, Interstate 80 crosses the Continental Divide twice between Rawlins and Rock Springs. The first crossing is about 5.5 miles west of Rawlins near Hadsell at Milepost 206. It reaches the second crossing between Tipton and Table Rock at Milepost 156. You may notice that the marker located at this site is not on the divide, but located within the Great Divide Basin about 22 miles west of the eastern crossing. When the Lincoln Highway was designated as the transcontinental highway, this location was incorrectly reported as the location of the divide and the sign was installed.

To receive credit for this Earthcache, send me an email with answers to the following questions:

1.) Name the three principal river systems which have their source (through tributaries) in Wyoming.

2.) Give the elevation at this location.

3.) What is another term for the Continental Divide.

4.) Take a picture with you and your GPS receiver to the south of this sign. Post your picture with your log when you log your find.

Yikes! The sign has gone MIA!! Until it is replaced, please choose one of the following alternatives:

5a.) Find the answers for the questions online.

5b.) Or, find the coordinates and elevation to either the east or west crossings of the Continental Divide on I-80 and email them to me. The west crossing is near Milepost 156 and the east crossing is near Milepost 206.

The above information was compiled from the following sources:

Informational sign at site.

Blackstone, D.L. 1988. Traveler’s Guide to the Geology of Wyoming, 2nd Edition. Geological Survey of Wyoming Bulletin 67.

Lageson, D.R., and D.R. Spearing. 2004. Roadside Geology of Wyoming, 2nd Edition.

Wikipedia: (visit link)

Wyoming Atlas & Gazetteer, 2nd Edition. 1998. DeLorme.

Additional Hints (No hints available.)



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