There's a lot of gorgeous scenery in Wyoming. Everywhere you turn, there are magnificent forests, lush meadows, starkly stunning prairies and badlands, and majestic mountain ranges. Naturally, we think the Wyoming wilderness offers the best vistas in the world, so it wasn't news to us when one of our own was put on the shortlist of the most beautiful mountain ranges on the planet.
The Grand Tetons are part of the massive Rocky Mountain Range.
They make up a section of the range that runs about 40 miles south to north in the western part of Wyoming.
It's believed that the Shoshone Indians called the mountains "Teewinot" - translation: many pinnacles.
The Native American word is similar to the name French explorers gave the range and the one that stuck: les trois tétons.
The French phrase means "the three nipples," a reference to the distinctive shape of the Cathedral Group which includes the Grand Teton. Rising to 13, 775 feet, it's the highest peak in the entire range. The other peaks in this specific group are Teewinot, Mount Owen, Middle Teton, and South Teton.
The Teton Mountain Range includes a number of summits including the often-photographed Mount Moran.
Other peaks along this 40 miles of grand mountain mass include Buck Mountain, Static Peak, and Mount Wister.
This stunning mountain range is well-known and has been photographed and painted countless times.
The steep rise of the Tetons is an abrupt elevation from 5,000 to 7,000 feet up from the valley below with no benefit of foothills like most mountain ranges have.
The mountains cut a striking profile along the skyline, looming large day or night, in good weather and bad.
On a clear day, the highest peaks of the Tetons can be seen for miles and miles (...and miles...).
The Grand Tetons are quite close to the Wyoming/Idaho border, and the west side of the range can be seen from many locations in the eastern part of Idaho.
With such high elevation, the Grand Tetons are often obscured by clouds.
People taking a trip to the Jackson/Yellowstone/Grand Teton area hope for at least one clear day while they're visiting so they can get a glimpse of the spectacular mountains.
Sometimes, however, even the clouds are no match for their seemingly infinite height.
They just peek out from above!
It's little wonder that a breathtaking sight such as the Grand Tetons draws visitors by the millions each year.
More people flock to Grand Teton National Park every year - the park's website reports that 2016 was record-breaking, with more than 4.8 million visits.
When was the last time you visited the Tetons in person?
What other Wyoming natural wonders are among the most beautiful in the world?
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