- Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area
Infobox_protected_area | name = Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area
iucn_category = V
caption =
locator_x = 85
locator_y = 40
location = Big Horn and Carbon counties,Montana &Big Horn County, Wyoming , USA
nearest_city = Billings, MT
lat_degrees = 45
lat_minutes = 11
lat_seconds = 40
lat_direction = N
long_degrees = 108
long_minutes = 7
long_seconds = 50
long_direction = W
area = 120,296 acres (487 km²)
established =October 15 ,1966
visitation_num = 203,747
visitation_year = 2007
governing_body =National Park Service Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area was established by an act of Congress on
October 15 ,1966 , following the construction of theYellowtail Dam by the Bureau of Reclamation. This dam, named after the famous Crow chairmanRobert Yellowtail , harnessed the waters of theBighorn River and turned this variable stream into a lake. Archeological and historical resources complement the natural scene. About one third of the area is within the Crow Indian Reservation.Bighorn Lake extends 71 miles (114 km) throughWyoming andMontana , 55 miles (89 km) of which are held within spectacular Bighorn Canyon. The Recreation Area straddles the northern Wyoming and southern Montana borders. There are two visitor centers and other developed facilities; one inFort Smith, Montana , and one nearLovell, Wyoming . TheAfterbay Lake below the Yellowtail Dam is a good spot for trout fishing and wildlife viewing forduck s, geese and other animals. The Bighorn River below the Afterbay Dam is a world classtrout fishing area. North of Lovell, there is a spot where one can stand on the canyon rim, shout, and hear a "triple echo."References
* "The National Parks: Index 2001-2003". Washington: U.S. Department of the Interior.
External links
* [http://www.nps.gov/bica/index.htm National Park Service: Bighorn National Recreation Area]
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