Some years ago, for reasons I know not, I decided I must see Old Faithful. Of course, that meant a trip to Yellowstone National Park. I was completely unprepared for what awaiting – and Old Faithful is the least of it. Although it is quite astounding.
This geyser is called Old Faithful because it faithfully erupts on schedule: if an eruption lasts more than 2.5 minutes, it will erupt 91 minutes later. If the eruption is less than 2.5 minutes, it will erupt 65 minutes later. The eruptions can send up to 8,400 gallons of boiling hot water to a height of 185 feet. I didn’t realize how exciting this would be until I sat, along with dozens of other people, on benches surrounding the area and saw this with my own eyes. Wow!
The park service has a web cam set up at Old Faithful. check it out.
Marvelous as it is, Yellowstone is a wonder of hydrothermal features. My fellow-teacher Barbara Moorhead and I drove around the park, stopping at each trail, and were “shocked and awed” by what we saw.
West Thumb Region
This is Yellowstone Lake. I couldn’t believe it – here was a lake with thermal features within it! The most interesting is the Fishing Hole Geyser, or Fishing Cone.
The geyser is so-named because early visitors would stand on the rim, catch fish in the lake, and dip the fish into the geyser to cook. I saw a photograph in the Lodge there but can’t find it on the internet.
You know that patterns intriuge me. Look at these great stones in the lake and the texture/pattern/colors of the water!
The Abyss Pool is near the lake in the West Thumb region. It’s a hot spring, 53 feet deep! The next photo shows the entire pool. Temperature – 172 degrees Fahrenheit!
The ground around these hot springs is actually very fragile because it is a mix of algae and cyano bacteria, heat-loving micro-organisms. They can create dramatic orangey-brownish colors.
This next feature is a thermal vent, also in the lake.
This steaming pool is the Black Pool, which is a wonderful blue color. It’s 132 degrees and 30 feet deep.
The Lakeshore Geyser is also by the lake, and sometimes the vent is actually covered by the lake!
Finally, in this area (and I mean finally because it’s the last photo, not the last feature) are the Paint Pots, also known as mud pots. It was totally cool watching the “mud” sputter and pop.
I’m not sure of the name of this next feature.
This entire area is surrounded by a boardwalk that you can see in the distance. So much to see in just one place. You can get more information on the West Thumb region here.
Anyone reading this who hasn’t been to Yellowstone – well, all I can say is GO. It’s a photographer’s paradise. This is the smallest bit – the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone will astound you, all the other regions with thermal features will knock your socks off, and if none of that does it, try the bison! I had never been impressed with bison – the ungainly, strange creatures. I am now. They are bizarre and magnificent and all over the place. A terrific experience awaits the visitor.
