In the land of geysers
According to Acronymmonster, Yellowstone National Park is probably the most famous national park in the USA. The park has to cope with an annual tourist flow of three million people. Yellowstone National Park is mostly in the US state of Wyoming. 3% of the national park is in Montana and 1% in Idaho. The area of the national park is 8,987 km², making it the largest national park in the USA. Yellowstone National Park was founded in 1872 after the US Congress approved its protection. Another protected area in Wyoming is Grand Teton National Park.Yellowstone National Park was the first national park in the United States. The establishment of the national park paved the way for other protected areas in the United States. In 1978, Yellowstone National Park received World Heritage status from UNESCO.
Midway Geyser Basin in Yellowstone National Park
Indian country
Researchers have found that people must have lived in the area of today’s national park around 11,000 years ago. This determination was made possible by dating found arrowheads. The first white settlers and prospectors arrived in Yellowstone National Park in the 19th century. At that time, Native Americans, the Shoshones, lived and hunted in this area. Blackfeet Indians and the Crow also used the area for hunting. The famous Indian Sitting Bull came from the area of today’s sanctuary. In the 1880’s, Native Americans no longer lived in the park area. They were expelled or died.
Hot pavement
Yellowstone National Park is famous for its geysers and hot springs. A so-called melting point is located in the protected area. A local melting region of the Earth’s mantle is designated as such. The smell of sulfur is very strong and penetrating in this area. The sulfur is also deposited on rocks. Hence the name “Yellowstone”. There are numerous hot springs, lots of hot steam, mud pools, tufa terraces and geysers to be found in Yellowstone National Park as a result of seismic activity in the protected region. Mammoth Hot Springs ‘ tufa terraces are particularly impressive. Up to an unbelievable 2,000 kilograms of limestone previously dissolved in the water is deposited on the terraces there every day. Visitors can walk through the sinter terraces on footbridges.
Geysers above the magma chamber
There are always small earthquakes in the area of the national park. Scientists refer to Yellowstone as a super volcano. There are about 300 geysers in Yellowstone National Park. The most famous is Old Faithfull – Geyser, which regularly shoots up water fountains at intervals of 60-90 minutes. The water seeps through the porous ground and is finally heated by the heat of the magma chamber so that the water shoots upwards. The number of hot springs in the entire sanctuary is estimated at 10,000.
Travertine terraces at Mammoth Hot Springs in Yellowstone National Park
Water and unique landscapes in Yellowstone
The most famous flowering plant in the sanctuary is the rare, yellow-flowered monkey flower. It can even be found near hot springs. The highest mountain in Yellowstone National Park is Eagle Peak at 3,462 meters. Water is the main element in Yellowstone National Park. The Yellowstone River has created numerous impressive waterfalls in the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone.
Camping in Yellowstone National Park
There are numerous campgrounds and RV parks in Yellowstone National Park. Camping or camping outside of the campsites is not permitted. In the summer holiday season, it should be noted that the campgrounds are usually very crowded. Yellowstone National Park has eight visitor centers. There are interesting exhibitions for visitors and a variety of park tours are offered. Yellowstone National Park information, maps, and souvenirs can be purchased there.
Super meltdown caused by earthquakes in Yellowstone?
The last really big explosion took place in Yellowstone National Park about 600,000 years ago. In the meantime, the area is a natural gem, but the Yellowstone area is a powder keg that may explode again. This would probably destroy large parts of the USA with great losses to people and nature. The global climate would be even more and significantly more intensively affected. Let’s hope that this super volcano explosion, this possible earthquake in North America, is a long time coming.
Bison herd on the Firehole River in Yellowstone National Park
Rich flora and fauna
Wildlife in Yellowstone National Park is precious. Elk, grizzlies and black bears, lynx, pumas, coyotes, pronghorn, bighorn sheep, mule deer, elk and of course bison live in the park. Bird life is represented with buzzards, bald eagles and osprey as the main predators. Beach and water birds feel at home in the park. White pelicans are native to the national park. The trumpet swan winters in Yellowstone. There are also a large number of smaller bird species in the park area.
Fire and water – forces of nature
The forests in the national park were often engulfed in flames. At first this was felt to be a great misfortune and attempts were made to extinguish the fire. Slowly, however, the realization prevailed that nature, the forests, need the conflagrations to survive. For example, tree seeds only spring out of their dwellings at a certain high temperature and rejuvenate the forests of the national park with their rapid germination.
Yellowstone sights
- Lamar Valley
- Steamboat Geyser
- Old Faithful Geyser
- Lone Star Geyser
- Yellowstone Lake
- Firehole Canyon and River
- Mammoth Hot Springs
- Hayden Valley
- Yellowstone-Mud Volcano Area
- Dragon’s Mouth
- Midway Geyser
- tower case
- Biscuit and Upper Basin
- West Thumb and Norris Geyser
- Mount Washburn
- Grand Prismatic Spring
- Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone
- Artist Point
- Mystic Falls
- Snake River
