Yellowstone Park

Approaching the main geyser area of the park was like driving into a wartime film set. Plumes of smoke rising into the bright morning sun.
Hugh volcanic eruptions have taken place in the area and much of the park sits in the "Caldera" (crater) of the last one (600,000 years ago).
The area has over 10,000 geothermal features as the earths crust is only 3-6 miles thick compared to a normal area thickness of around 30 miles.


Clear blue, near boiling water in many pools has coloured edges caused by bacterial growths which are adapted to the high temperature and a diet rich in sulphur and iron.

Geysers bubble and spray at the side of the path. Some are regular performers, others sit quietly for days, months or years before they erupt. This is Sawmill Geyser, a playful little chap that gave Elaine a thorough soaking. We walked past again an hour later and all of the water had drained down from the mouth.

Probably the best known geyser in Yellowstone "Old Faithful", so named because it erupts every 90 minutes or so to a height of 150ft ft or more.

In the north-east of the park is the Canyon area. The Yellowstone River has carved an impressive 27 mile long canyon that is up to 1,200ft deep through the rock.










In the north-west is a different type of formation. Mineral laden water is pushed into pools where evaporation has caused multi layered rock (called Travertine) to build up in huge terraces.

The large pool sits on the edge of the formation with views towards the distant mountains.