Destination Yellowstone National Park
Destination Yellowstone National Park
Yellowstone National Park was named after the Yellowstone River. Native Americans called the river “Mi tsi a da zi,” which meant “Rock Yellow River,” and was translated by French fur trappers to “Yellow Rock” or “Yellow Stone,” hence the name Yellowstone. John Coltzer was one of the first people to have explored the Yellowstone area. Coltzer was from the Lewis and Clark expedition and he walked alone through this area in 1807 while in search of furs.
Since 1827, though, Yellowstone has been a national park and it was actually the World’s First National Park. Yellowstone is also a World Heritage Site and a Biosphere Reserve Site. Yellowstone would not have been possible, though, without the act that was passed on March 1st, 1872 by Congress that set aside land for the first national park.
The Yellowstone National Park is located 96% in Wyoming, 3% in Montana and 1% in Idaho. The Park has 5 entrances, 466 miles of roads (310 miles paved), 950 miles of trails, and 287 campsites. The entire park is 3,472 square miles and is 2,221,766 acres. The highest point in the park is Eagle Peak at 11,358 feet above sea level and the lowest point is Reese Creek at 5,282 feet above sea level.
Yellowstone has many geological features, such as fumaroles. Fumaroles are vents that emit steam mixed with other volcanic gasses. Some fumaroles in Yellowstone include the Black Growler Steam Vent and the Norris Geyser Basin.
Hot springs are also another feature in Yellowstone. The park contains more hot springs than geysers. Mineral deposits have formed terraces and cones on some nearby land. Mammoth Hot Springs is one hot springs in Yellowstone where water flows over terraces as high as 300 feet. Algae and various bacteria prosper in these pools of warm water, giving them radiant colors.
The park also contains Mud Pots. Mud pots are when sulfide gas is present and hot water is restricted so that sulfuric acid is created. The acid disintegrates the surrounding rocks into silica and clay, forming a mud-like substance, hence the nickname “Mud pot.”
Geysers are also a large attraction at Yellowstone. Expanding steam bubbles condensing inside these structures build up from heating water inside the small duct until water overflows from the...