Snake River Canyon (Idaho)

Snake River Canyon is a large canyon formed by the Snake River in the Magic Valley region of southern Idaho. It is well known as the site of an unsuccessful 1974 attempt by Evel Knievel, to jump it in the Skycycle X-2.

Perrine Bridge crosses the canyon immediately north of Twin Falls. In places the canyon is 500 feet (166 meters) deep and 0.25 miles (0.41 kilometers) wide. [ [http://www.lee.net/walk/visit/twinfalls.htm Lee Enterprises, Incorporated: newspapers, publishing, online, shoppers, classified, specialty publications] , "Lee.net". Accessed August 18, 2008.] Shoshone Falls is located approximately 5 miles (8.33 kilometers) east of Perrine Bridge in the canyon.

In the late 1800s I. B. Perrine and others founded the Magic Valley's first successful agricultural operations on Snake River Canyon floor. The canyon's value as a farming area diminished after irrigation projects made agriculture practical in the surrounding areas in the early 20th Century. Today the canyon floor is a tourist attraction and features several parks and golf courses.

In the past it was generally believed the Snake River Canyon was created by a cataclysmic flooding of Lake Bonneville approximately 14,000 years ago. However, geologists now believe that while the canyon was shaped by the flood, its basic structure predated it. [Topinka, Lyn. [http://vulcan.wr.usgs.gov/Glossary/Glaciers/IceSheets/description_lake_bonneville.html Lake Bonneville and the Bonneville Flood] , "Cascades Volcano Observatory", January 22, 2003. Accessed August 18, 2008.]

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