“Old Faithful Geyser”

Our new featured hotspot is “Yellowstone National Park” located in Wyoming, Idaho and Montana.  It covers 3,472 square miles or over 2 million acres.  The majority of Yellowstone is located in Wyoming with only four percent located in the two remaining states.  Yellowstone became a National Park in 1872 and was the world’s first National Park.  At the heart of Yellowstone lies volcanism.  Two million years ago the first catastrophic volcanic eruption occurred, followed by two other eruptions, the latest occurring 600,000 years ago.  These eruptions collapsed the central area of the land and formed a 28x47 mile basin.  The scorching heat powering those eruptions still controls the parks famous geysers, hot springs, mud pots and fumaroles.  Yellowstone National Parks contains more geysers and hot springs than the rest of the world combined.

The most breathtaking sight in Yellowstone is “The Grand Canyon” of Yellowstone.  It is 20 miles long.  The canyon is up to 4,000 feet wide and 1,200 feet deep in places.  Located in the canyon are Yellowstone’s stunning Upper and Lower Falls.  Upper Falls cascades 109 feet into the canyon.  Lower Falls plunges 308 feet into the Yellowstone River.  Nearly 300 waterfalls can be seen throughout the park.  Other spectacular waterfalls are Tower Falls, Lewis Falls, Undine Falls, Virginia Cascades and Gibbon Falls.  Wildlife is abundant with 67 species of mammals, including American bison, elk, grizzly, black bears, moose, prong horn, coyotes, big horn sheep, mule deer, trumpeter swans and Yellowstone cut throat trout.  Twelve campgrounds are located throughout the park with over 2000 campsites.  Yellowstone offers over 1250 miles of trails and boardwalks.  It can take days to explore Yellowstone National Park.  Visit www.nps.gov/yell/ to find out more.