Geothermal features number more than 10,000 in Yellowstone National Park, including the world’s greatest concentration of geysers, hot springs, mudpots, and fumaroles.
These features are the visible expression of the park’s underlying volcanic system, which is powered by a vast magma chamber deep beneath the surface.
Geothermal Features
Geysers are hot springs that erupt periodically, releasing steam and hot water into the air. Old Faithful is the most famous geyser in Yellowstone, but there are more than 500 geysers in the park, including Steamboat Geyser, the world’s tallest-erupting geyser.
Hot springs are pools of water that are heated by geothermal energy. The water in hot springs can range in temperature from near-boiling to lukewarm.
Some hot springs, such as Grand Prismatic Spring, are known for their vibrant colors, which are caused by microscopic organisms called thermophiles.
Mudpots are hot springs that are acidic enough to dissolve the surrounding rock, creating a pool of mud. Mudpots often bubble and gurgle as the acidic water reacts with the rock.
Fumaroles are vents in the Earth’s surface that release hot steam and volcanic gases. Fumaroles are often found near geysers and hot springs.
How Geothermal Features Form
Geothermal features form when water seeps down into the Earth’s crust and is heated by magma. The heated water then rises back to the surface, where it can erupt from geysers, flow out of hot springs, or dissolve the surrounding rock to form mudpots and fumaroles.
Geothermal features can be found all over Yellowstone National Park, but some of the most popular areas to see them include; Upper Geyser Basin, Midway Geyser Basin, Norris Geyser Basin and Mammoth Hot Springs.
West Yellowstone, Montana
It’s a charming town located just outside the West Entrance to Yellowstone National Park. It is a popular destination for visitors from all over the world, who come to experience the park’s incredible natural wonders, including geysers, hot springs, waterfalls, and wildlife.
We had lunch at Bullwinkle’s. The food was good (elk ravioli and wild mushroom pasta) and the staff friendly. West Yellowstone is a convenient base for exploring the park. The town offers a variety of amenities and services for visitors including hotels, motels, restaurants, shops, and tour operators.
Yellowstone Grizzly RV Park
We’ve stayed at Grizzly a few times. The sites are large and they have full service. The park works great for Jake because the property is huge and the roads are paved making it easy to walk. Jake prefers going into the National Forest adjacent to the RV park where there are miles of trails to explore.
