<br />16 THE GREEN RIFER AND ITS L I'ILILAi,v.N
<br />feet. The source consists of a number of small glacial lakes, e
<br />from these the stream flows a little, east of north through a rug,
<br />canyon for at least 15 miles. At the lower enl of the canyon a Wan
<br />gateway through the hogback ridges at the foot of the flanks of
<br />mountains opens into a broader, more open canyon, which eventui
<br />merges into the rolling plain that forms the lower part of the bai
<br />Near Lonetree, ` vo., Henrys Fork swings eastward for about
<br />miles, then southeastward, crosses into Utah and empties into
<br />Green River 3 miles south of the State line. Its principal tributa
<br />are Beaver Creek and Burnt Fork.
<br />YAMPA AND WRITE RIVER BASINS
<br />GENERAL FEATURES
<br />The basins of the Yampa and White Rivers comprise the en b-
<br />northwest corner of Colorado, a small part of southern liyom
<br />and a small part of eastern Utah. They are treated together beca.
<br />they have similar characteristics and because certain irri-
<br />projects contemplate the use of the waters of the. White for irriga }
<br />lands in the Yampa Basin.
<br />The foothills of the Park Range lie along the east side of
<br />area; the north side merges into the broad open country of the Gr.,.
<br />River Basin in Wyoming; the east end of the Uinta- Nlourt
<br />occupies the northwestern part; and the )'lliite. River Pallev
<br />along its southern border, extending westward into the Uinta B is
<br />The combined area of these two basins is about 12,830 square
<br />7,950 square miles in the Yampa River Basin and 4,850 square
<br />in the White River Basin. The altitude ranges from 4,640
<br />at the mouth of Vlnite River to 14,000 feet at the crest: of the
<br />Mountains, on the eastern boundary. Some portions of thus
<br />.consist of open or comparatively level country, but much of
<br />made up of rolling hills flanking those higher portions which,xi,
<br />properly be called Iountains.°
<br />Besides the east end of the Uinta Mountains, several other pi
<br />inent topographic features lie within the area. The Dauforth
<br />rise between the Yampa and Wh'te Rivers in the eastern part-
<br />Tampa Plateau and Midland Ridge are conspicuous features
<br />southwestern part; and Juniper and Cross Mountains, two
<br />h lls east of and in line with the Uinta Range, rise abruptly out
<br />basin Qr broad valley through a pari of-which the Yampa River
<br />which has been designated Axial Basin. Southwest, of the Y-
<br />ang ,
<br />Pls?ai and extending westward to a point beyond the Gran
<br />are P Yellow Hills, agroup -of logy, rounded naked hits
<br />IrL_?_ tn-ye , w clay and shale 'hai constitute he ground ??1+
<br />bFhi e,'C, A On the nlogq and phq Phy of "Parts r northwestern
<br />.:. A-1 a' LtaR and Wyoming: U. S. Geol. Survey Ninth Ann Rapt.; P. F:94, 1889. ,
<br />71
<br />?; P• -
<br />1 c of the shale is slate colored, and some is pink, with soft and
<br />?;1rate tint,. A network of wet -weather channels descends rapidly
<br />tco and the Green River, and the intervening hills are entirely des-
<br />of vegetation. South of the Yellow Hills and separated from
<br />by a well-defined ridge is a broad stretch of red and buff bad
<br />a>>,ls which extend southward beyond the White, River and consti-
<br />;ii±c the lower part of the White River Basin. Beyond the river the
<br />a4c?n c structure appears, somewhat like that in the Alcove Land,
<br />near Green River, Wyo., and this district was named "Goblin City"
<br />i.r a member of Powell's party."
<br />PRINCIPAL STREAMS
<br />The Yampa River is a striking example of the seeming disregard of
<br />Wring conditions of location thatismore orless ebaracteristic of the
<br />River at several places along its course. The Yampa is fed by
<br />;,;?merous small tributaries that drain the western slopes of the Park
<br />Fame. Its upper course is turbulent for many miles through rocky
<br />aes and narrow valleys. After emerging from the foothills it
<br />,:,,verses the open country that lies toward the v, est, its general direc-
<br />t cn being toward- the east end of the Uinta Range and along the _
<br />_reatcr part of the length of Axial Basin. Juniper and Cross Moun-
<br />tains lie directly in the way of the stream, and around these mountains
<br />are low-bring lands through which the stream might have gone with
<br />apparent ease. But upon reaching Juniper Mountain the ricer cut
<br />it- way by a short canyon through the hard rocks that form the.north-
<br />mi flank of the mountain, instead of swerving a little and passing
<br />around the mountain. This canyon is about 21,2' miles long, and its
<br />Rallis ere only a few hundred feet in maximum heiht above the stream
<br />led For 32 miles after leaving Juniper Canyon the river flows
<br />tiauui,
<br />It the rolling sage-covered prairie lands of Axial Basin to Cross
<br />11c untain, through which it cuts another canyon in a similar manner.
<br />his canyon is about 3 miles long and is a narrow defile with almost
<br />vertical rock walls, which reach a maximum height of about a thousand
<br />`eet or more above the low land at each end of the canyon. For 11
<br />miles below- Cross Mountain-Canyon tbe-river has a peaceful course -- -
<br />through Lily Park, which is a broadening of the valley, and here it
<br />:rceives the waters of the Little Snake River, the last tributary of any
<br />L^.Iportance. Then, instead of joining the Green River by way of the
<br />ioN land at either the north or the south side of the Uinta Range, it
<br />?aters the east end of the range, and the remainder of its course is
<br />througb the narrow Blue Mountain Canyon, which extends westward
<br />4•.) rniles through the upturned strata of the Uinta Range and joins.
<br />Elie canyon of the-Green River near-the Colorado-Utah line.
<br />°0¢°11.7. -'., Esp;oration of the Colorado River of the;west and its a rotaries, rBPbdB74, p, 467,
<br />40150--3t1- 3:
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