Wind River Basin, Intermontane basin in central Wyoming, US
The Wind River Basin is a broad, low-lying area in central Wyoming, enclosed by mountain ranges including the Wind River Range to the southwest and the Owl Creek Mountains to the north. The floor of the basin is relatively flat and open, crossed by the Wind River, which gives the area its name.
The basin was home to Shoshone peoples for centuries before trappers and settlers passed through in the 1800s. In 1884, the first commercial oil production in Wyoming began at Dallas Dome, inside the basin, which set the region on a path tied to the petroleum industry.
The Wind River Reservation covers large parts of the basin and is home to the Eastern Shoshone and the Northern Arapaho nations. Their presence shapes land use and place names across the area, and visitors will notice this influence throughout the region.
The basin covers a large area in a sparsely populated part of Wyoming, where towns can be far apart and services are limited. Filling up on gas and carrying water before heading out is a good idea, as weather can change fast and roads in some areas are unpaved.
The flat ground of the basin sits above layers of ancient marine sediment, showing that this inland region was once covered by a shallow sea. Fossils of sea creatures have been found deep in these layers, far from any ocean today.
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