Shell Falls

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'Shell Falls'

Shell Falls
Location Big Horn Mountains, Wyoming Flag of the United States
Coordinates 44°35′14″N 107°36′50″W / 44.5872230529785, -107.613952636718 (Shell falls)Coordinates: 44°35′14″N 107°36′50″W / 44.5872230529785, -107.613952636718 (Shell falls)
Total height 120 ft (36 m)
Number of drops 1
Watercourse Shell Creek

Shell Falls is a waterfall in the Bighorn National Forest on Shell Creek, about half-way down Shell Canyon, and a few miles upstream from the town of Shell in northeast Wyoming. The falls are 120 feet (36 meters) in height and tumble over basement rock of granite [1].

From the rest area and interpretive center, one can see outcrops of the Cambrian flathead sandstone, about 550 million years old, resting on 2.9 billion year old Precambrian rocks - some of the oldest rocks on earth. [2]. Visitors can also see "Copman's Tomb", a massive limestone promontory to the north.[1]

Map of the area around Shell Falls.
Map of the area around Shell Falls.
Copman's Tomb by Karyne Dickson.
Copman's Tomb by Karyne Dickson.
Shell Falls Interpretive Center.
Shell Falls Interpretive Center.

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[edit] External links

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b Bighorn National Forest. Shell Falls. Bighorn National Forest; Sheridan, WY. 
  2. ^ Lageson, David and Spearing, Darwin (1981). Roadside Geology of Wyoming. Mountain Press Publishing Company. ISBN 0-87842-216-1.