#Excelsior Geyser

[faggotfungus]

Aerial image of Excelsior Geyser

[pinkblanc]

Yellowstone Geyser

[yellowstone-national-park]

This is an update on the hydrothermal explosion that occurred just before 10 AM on Tuesday, July 23, in Biscuit Basin, Yellowstone National Park.

National Park Service (NPS) field crews have completed a preliminary assessment of the conditions following the hydrothermal explosion at Black Diamond Pool. For a map showing the locations of the features in that area, see https://www.usgs.gov/media/images/map-major-features-biscuit-basin-yellowstone-national-park.

What happened? The July 23, 2024, hydrothermal explosion at Biscuit Basin resulted from water suddenly transitioning to steam in the shallow hydrothermal system beneath Black Diamond Pool and was not caused by volcanic activity. Seismicity, ground deformation, and gas and thermal emissions remain at their normal background levels, and there were no detectable precursors to this event.

The explosion, which sent steam and debris to a height of hundreds of feet above the ground, destroyed a nearby boardwalk and ejected grapefruit-sized rocks tens to hundreds of feet from the source. Some blocks closest to the explosion site are about 3 feet (1 meter) wide and weigh hundreds of pounds. The explosion was largely directed to the northeast toward the Firehole River, and the largest blocks of debris fell in that direction. The dark color of the explosion was a result of mud and debris mixed with steam and boiling water. Although visitors were present at the time of the event, no injuries were reported.

Black Diamond Pool and Black Opal Pool were affected by Tuesday’s explosion, and while they remain distinct features, the shape of Black Diamond has changed somewhat. Both pools are murky due to debris, and the unstable ground around their edges occasionally slides into the water. Just after the eruption, Black Diamond Pool exhibited minor roiling and water spouting. The water level in the pool rose over the course of the day, and by Tuesday afternoon the roiling transitioned to occasional bursts of hot water that reached about 8 feet (2.4 meters) in height.

What is happening now? By Wednesday morning, July 24, the levels of Black Diamond Pool and Black Opal Pool had risen enough that both were overflowing and sending murky water into the Firehole River. No water bursts from Black Diamond Pool were witnessed Wednesday morning.

What are ongoing hazards? Given the recent changes to the hydrothermal plumbing system, small explosions of boiling water from this area in Biscuit Basin continue to be possible over the coming days to months. USGS and NPS geologists will be monitoring conditions, mapping the debris field, and sampling water to assess any changes in the shallow hydrothermal system over the next several days.

Hydrothermal explosions typically occur in the park one to a few times per year, but often in the back country where they may not be immediately detected.

Similar, although smaller, hydrothermal explosions took place in 1989 at Porkchop Geyser in Norris Geyser Basin, and on April 15, 2024, from the Porcelain Terrace Area of Norris Geyser Basin. A small hydrothermal explosion occurred from Wall Pool, in Biscuit Basin, in 2009. Significant hydrothermal explosions, probably similar in size to that of July 23, 2024, occurred in the 1880s at Excelsior Geyser, in Midway Geyser Basin.

Yellowstone National Park has closed Biscuit Basin for the remainder of the 2024 season for visitor safety. Grand Loop Road remains open to vehicles, and other nearby thermal basins, like Black Sand Basin, are open. Additional Yellowstone National Park information about visitor access can be found at https://www.nps.gov/yell/index.htm.

More information Yellowstone Volcano Observatory monitoring website: https://www.usgs.gov/volcanoes/yellowstone

2022-2032 YVO Monitoring Plan: https://pubs.usgs.gov/publication/sir20225032

Preliminary Assessment of Volcanic and Hydrothermal Hazards in Yellowstone National Park and Vicinity: https://pubs.usgs.gov/publication/ofr20071071

Yellowstone National Park images from Biscuit Basin explosion site: https://www.flickr.com/photos/yellowstonenps/albums/72177720319112324/

[fragrantblossoms]

F. Jay Haynes.  Crater of Excelsior Geyser, c. 1889.                              

[wild-west-wind]

Excelsior Geyser, photographed by TW Ingersoll in 1888.

In its time the tallest and most voluminous geyser in recorded history. It was known to throw boulders hundreds of feet away, and heat the Firehole river to the point it would kill any person or horse that tried to cross it (to the best of my knowledge neither ever did). 300ft tall, and 300ft wide in it's glory days.

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Excelsior Geyser Crater - Yellowstone NP (2980x2829)(OC)

[asprinterandamarathon]

BOTR - Day 11 - June 25, 2024

We went to Yellowstone today. It’s a first for Jeanne. On our way out of the neighborhood we saw a bald eagle! We knew it was going to be a good day.

We decided to get into the park via West Yellowstone. This gave us the chance to drive through Ennis, a quaint western town half way into our drive. The town has great views of the mountains from the west. At this time, it’s not overrun with vacation owners and tourists.

Me, Jane, & Jeanne in Ennis.

To help Jeanne run up her state count, we detoured through Idaho. It gave us an opportunity for a photo in front of the “Welcome to” signs for both Idaho and, across the road, Montana. What fun!

Checking off another state.

Yellowstone delivered in multiple ways. First, the weather was perfect. Second, the crowds were reasonable. Third, the sites were spectacular. Fourth, the animals were abundant and visible.

Soon after we entered the park we took a tangent road through Firehole Canyon where the Firehole River cuts past huge rock walls. None of us had been this way before and we certainly put it on the list for future exploration.

On our way to our next stop, Midway Geyser Basin, we saw our first bison of the day. At Midway, Jeanne got her first view of the many colorful springs in the park. Grand Prismatic, Opal, Turquoise, and others drew oh wows from all of us.

Grand Prismatic.

Excelsior Spring.

Next stop… Old Faithful. We arrived just a few minutes after an eruption so we had about 50 minutes to explore the Old Faithful Inn and grab lunch. The lobby at the Old Faithful Inn is quite grand but seemed small this time around. Perhaps it was the large number of tourists that shrunk it down.

After lunch, we found seats on the boardwalk near the Old Faithful Geyser. Twenty minutes later we were watching water and steam shoot 75 feet into the air to the sounds of oohs and aahs from the crowd. You can always count on Old Faithful to put on a good show!

Where to next? We decided to point the car towards home with the expectation that we would stop a few times more. We headed north then east to the Canyon section of the park. Along the way we saw a few elk and more bison. By now bison sightings were getting somewhat ho hum although baby bison always were exciting to see.

The Canyon area gave us a chance to view the Yellowstone River, Yellowstone Falls, and the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone. All spectacular. You need to see these places in real life. The sights and sounds cannot be captured well with an iPhone camera.

Yellowstone Falls.

Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone.

Just another elk.

Next decision… west then north or north then west through the park. The latter gave us a chance to drive a road and see parts of the park none of us had ever seen. Obviously, that was our choice.

We topped 8900 feet near Mount Washburn and dropped into a huge expanse of grassland with small shrubs and a smattering of trees. We pulled over to take in the vista and spotted bison, elk, sandhill cranes, and coyotes. Further up the road, as indicated by a number of car haphazardly pulled over, we missed a bear sighting by minutes. A little while later, as we approached the Mammoth area, we saw elk with babies. We really made the right choice in going this way!

Dinner was in Gardiner at the Iron Horse Bar & Grill on the river. It offered rustic authentic western decor with tasty food. Then on the Paradise Valley with great views and a beautiful sky as the sun set.

All in all, a great day. We started at 7am and were home by 10pm. Not a minute was wasted. Everyday should be like this day.

Sunset on the way home.

[bbumtravel]

The largest hot spring in the United States. !!

Grand Prismatic Spring, Wyoming, USA: A Natural Wonder

Grand Prismatic Spring is one of the most breathtaking natural attractions in the United States, located in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming. Here’s a comprehensive introduction to this stunning hot spring:

Geological and Physical Characteristics

Size and Depth: Grand Prismatic Spring is the largest hot spring in Yellowstone National Park and the third-largest in the world. It measures approximately 370 feet (112 meters) in diameter and is over 121 feet (37 meters) deep.

Water Temperature: The spring maintains a constant high temperature due to geothermal activity beneath Yellowstone. The water at the center of Grand Prismatic Spring can reach temperatures near boiling, while the outer edges are cooler.

Colorful Formation: What sets Grand Prismatic Spring apart is its vibrant colors. The spectrum of colors – ranging from deep blue in the center to green, yellow, orange, and red along the edges – is caused by pigmented bacteria and thermophiles that thrive in the different temperature zones of the spring.

Surrounding Landscape

Location: Grand Prismatic Spring is situated in the Midway Geyser Basin, which is known for its diverse geothermal features. It is easily accessible via a boardwalk trail that offers stunning views of the spring and the surrounding geothermal activity.

Other Geothermal Features: The Midway Geyser Basin is home to several other notable geothermal features, including Excelsior Geyser, which was once the largest geyser in the world, and various hot springs and fumaroles.

Visitor Experience

Viewing Platforms: Visitors can enjoy panoramic views of Grand Prismatic Spring from the elevated boardwalks surrounding the spring. These platforms offer different perspectives of the colorful pool and its steam rising into the air.

Hiking Trails: There are hiking trails in the area that provide closer views of the spring and access to nearby geothermal features. The Fairy Falls Trail, for example, offers a more distant but picturesque view of Grand Prismatic Spring from above.

Photography: Grand Prismatic Spring is a paradise for photographers due to its stunning colors and unique geological features. The best time for photography is typically in the morning or evening when the sunlight enhances the vibrant hues of the spring.

Conservation and Preservation

Yellowstone National Park is dedicated to preserving its natural wonders, including Grand Prismatic Spring. Visitors are encouraged to stay on designated trails and boardwalks to protect the delicate microbial mats and geothermal features surrounding the spring.

Practical Information

Location: Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, USA.

Accessibility: The Midway Geyser Basin, where Grand Prismatic Spring is located, is accessible by car or tour buses within Yellowstone National Park.

Best Time to Visit: Summer (June to August) is the peak tourist season when the weather is most favorable for visiting Yellowstone. However, spring and fall offer fewer crowds and stunning natural beauty.

Conclusion

Grand Prismatic Spring is not only a geological marvel but also a testament to the intricate balance of nature and the unique microbial life that thrives in Yellowstone’s geothermal waters. Whether you're a nature enthusiast, photographer, or simply curious about Earth’s natural wonders, Grand Prismatic Spring offers an unforgettable experience of color, beauty, and geological history in the heart of Yellowstone National Park.

Worth to go : 6.5/10 ( Nothing to say ) Thanks for reading ♥

[julianajohnsonphoto]

Excelsior Geyser

Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, Part III

May 2017

[nextdestinationunknown]

Day 65 (8/4/14): Missoula, MT | Dubois, WY

We left Montana this morning and started driving to Wyoming, passing the Madison River on the way. Our route took us through Yellowstone National Park, which begins right on the border of Wyoming. To my dismay, there was no “Welcome to Wyoming” sign to welcome us as we crossed the state line shortly after entering the park.

The entrance fee for Yellowstone was $25, which was good for one week and also included Grand Teton National Park. The park pass worked out well because we also had to drive through Grand Teton and planned on returning later to enjoy the parks more. They were both easy to drive through with a truck towing a trailer, and Yellowstone had many large turn-outs.

However, we had a long drive from Montana to our campground in Dubois, WY. We wanted to go back to Yellowstone on another day without the trailer to spend more time there and truly be able to appreciate the park. After driving through Yellowstone and exiting Grand Teton National Park (the two parks are connected), the scenic landscape we passed was comparable to the parks without the entrance fee.

Wind River

As we continued driving, we discovered that Wyoming has a diverse landscape. It seems like one minute, it’s green and densely forested, and the next, it’s desert with red and white striped hills. We settled down in a little RV campground right on the Wind River. Lucky for us, one of our neighbors requested to switch sites with us due to us having a massive site and them having an enormous Class A Motorhome and trailer. We gladly obliged since their site was directly across from the river, giving us a lovely view from our trailer.

  Day 66 (8/5/14): Dubois, WY

We took a step back to the dark ages at this campground as far as technology goes. We had planned on using this day to book several of our next campgrounds in advance. However, when we went to call them to make reservations, we discovered that we had zero cell phone reception. Go figure. We try to actually plan ahead for once but can’t. We made the most of the situation though with me working on the blog and Justin cleaning the truck and trailer.

Later in the day, we drove into nearby Dubois, a quirky little Western town with antler sculptures and animal statues. Justin particularly liked the giant jackalope at the gas station and the over-sized skull (complete with horns) at the local laundromat. We grabbed a late lunch at the Cowboy Cafe. Justin LOVED their Swiss-Mushroom Chicken Fried Steak and hasn’t stopped talking about it since. Sauteed mushrooms, white country gravy, and an inch-thick steak fried to perfection – Justin was one happy camper. 🙂

Dubois, WY

  Day 67 (8/6/14): Yellowstone National Park

Lewis Falls

We were on the road by 7:00am and reached Yellowstone National Park by 8:30am. We had strategically planned our visit to Yellowstone the night before to make sure we saw every point of interest we wanted to see. We entered the park through the south entrance, and our first stop was Lewis Falls. The decent size waterfall increased our excitement for the Upper and Lower Falls of the upcoming Grand Canyon.  As we continued driving, we came across some wild elk!

Next we visited Mud Volcano and Dragon’s Mouth where we saw a wild bison! As we were walking up to the hydrothermal features, we spotted the bison coming down a hill. Before we knew it, the bison had made his way down and started walking through the parking lot below. It was a crazy sight to see a wild animal (and a large one at that) strolling through the vehicles.

He continued through the parking lot back into the land surrounding the points of interest.   Ironically, rather than walking on the grass surrounding both sides of the asphalt path leading from the parking lot, the bison took the paved path instead. We thought he was long gone. However, as we walked along the boardwalk, the bison made another appearance and actually crossed over the boardwalk directly in front of us!

Elk!

Look…! A bison!

Coming down the hill!

Heading for the asphalt

Moseying through the parking lot

RIght in front of our truck!

Mud Volcano

After the surreal distraction of being so close to the bison, we finally saw what we had stopped to see in the first place. Mud Volcano was a gurgling pool of mud with ribbons of silver swirling around the bubbles. It reminded Justin of a soupy, chocolate milkshake. However, if you see it in the winter, it’s thicker and would probably more closely resemble an actual milkshake.

Dragon’s Mouth

Next we viewed Dragon’s Mouth with steam spewing from it’s opening. It literally sounded like a dragon burping from acid reflux and smelled like it as well due to the sulfur.

From Dragon’s Mouth, we made our way over to the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone National Park where we viewed the Upper and Lower Falls. The further up you go, the better the view gets at Artist Point. We also went to the Brink of the Upper Falls. From the top, you look down at the 109-feet tall waterfall. Being that close to the falls, the roaring sound of the water is almost deafening as it crashes below.

Upper Falls

Lower Falls

Brink of the Upper Falls

After gazing at the waterfall cutting through the canyon, we kept driving through Yellowstone and saw countless pillars of steam rising from the earth’s surface along the way.

Stopping at the Lower Geyser Basin, we took the Fountain Paint Pot Trail where we enjoyed seeing the aqua blue Silex Spring, the muddy Paint Pots, Red Spouter, the bubbling fumarole and the active Spasm Geyser.

Silex Spring

Fountain Paint Pot

Red Spouter

Spasm Geyser

Next at the Midway Geyser Basin, we loved the hot springs running into a stream below the boardwalk trail.  We also saw the thermal spring of Excelsior Geyser with it’s churning water as well as the Grand Prismatic Spring, the largest hot spring in Yellowstone.

Excelsior Geyser

Grand Prismatic Spring

We continued on to the colorful Biscuit Basin, our favorite of the geyser basins.  The crystal-clear, intensely blue water of the Sapphire Pool was out-of-this-world! Jewel Geyser was also fun to see as it erupted when we walked by.

Jewel Geyser

Sapphire Pool

Old Faithful!

No trip to Yellowstone would be complete though without seeing Old Faithful, so that’s where we decided to finish up our tour of the national park. We hunkered down on a bench with the rest of the people encircling the geyser waiting for it to erupt. After gazing at Old Faithful for about half an hour, we finally saw it blow!

We had originally thought we could see Yellowstone and Jackson Hole, WY in one day, but that didn’t work out. We ended up spending the entire rainy day in Yellowstone as there was so much to stop to see. There are fascinating geothermal features everywhere! Even with a whole day in the park, we didn’t get to see everything. I can definitely understand why people camp there for multiple days.

  Day 68 (8/7/14): Grand Teton National Park | Jackson Hole, WY

Since we didn’t get to visit Jackson Hole, WY yesterday as we had originally planned, we used today to see it. On the way there, we drove through Grand Teton National Park again and were treated to an amazing view of the impressive mountain range.

Once we reached Jackson, we walked around the Town Square. Each corner of the square has an arch made entirely of antlers adding to the charm of the town. I would describe Jackson as an upscale Western town complete with horse-drawn stagecoach rides.

After strolling past the shops and grabbing lunch, we headed about 32 miles southeast of Jackson to Granite Hot Springs in the Bridger-Teton National Forest. Justin used to camp with his family near the hot springs when he was a boy and had been wanting to take me to the nostalgic spot.

We took route 191 south for 12 miles to the Hoback Junction where we turned left. We then drove another 10 miles or so before we made another left at Granite Hot Springs Road. It was a dirt road that lasted about 10 miles before we finally reached the hot springs.

Granite Hot Springs

It’s actually a large man-made pool fed by a hot spring. The pool gets to be 8 feet deep and has a small seating area where the water comes in from the mountain. The water is quite warm, making you feel like you’re swimming in a massive bathtub.  As we were soaking in the hot springs, it started raining.

It’s rained pretty much every day we’ve been in Wyoming, but we didn’t mind. We like the rain and enjoyed it’s refreshing droplets, especially while we were in the warm water. As we were driving back to our campground in Dubois, it continued raining. At one point though, the temperature dropped to 42 degrees Fahrenheit, and there was snow on the ground! In August! As pretty as northwest Wyoming was, I wouldn’t be able to handle it’s winters, especially if it snows in the summer!

New Blog! Days 65-68: Montana & Wyoming http://wp.me/p4tmBz-uc Day 65 (8/4/14): Missoula, MT | Dubois, WY We left Montana this morning and started driving to Wyoming, passing the Madison River on the way.

[superbnature]

The crater by fabriziocasale

[kevinandbernice]

Tuesday 27th Sept cont’d

Well from there it was onto Midway Geyser Basin and guess what, a geyser, a spring and 2 pools. The spring is in fact the most famous one in the park, Grand Prismatic Spring, which has a rainbow coloured edge surrounding it, which is best seen from the air. Only problem is we are on a boardwalk about a foot above the ground (so I’ve included a picture from the information board. The 2 pools were called Opel & Turqoise Pools and the geyser which was pretty large Excelsior.

Here’s the geyser and Spring

[meschkinnes]

Excelsior Geyser, ca. 1880

[bsawinart]

I learned so much from this trip to Yellowstone. Saw so many beautiful sights that I just didnt believe were real in nature.  This area was blocked off to prevent people from injuring themselves, as the liquids were listed as more corrosive than battery acid.  I was calling this area geysers, but in reality they are Fumaroles

The hottest hydrothermal features in the park. Limited amount of water in these features causes water to flash into steam before reaching the surface. Also known as steam vents. Did you know Old faithfuls intervals are getting longer between events? Also it isnt even the biggest at yellowstone.  Tucked away in the Norris Geyser Basin is Steamboat Geyser, the world’s tallest active geyser. Its major eruptions shoot water more than 300 feet (91 m). Only Waimangu Geyser in New Zealand has rocketed to greater heights—but not in more than one hundred years. In Yellowstone National Park’s recorded history, only two other geysers have exceeded Steamboat in size: Excelsior Geyser in Midway Geyser Basin and Sapphire Pool in Biscuit Basin. Steamboat’s minor and major eruptions used to average a year between events, but now it has shortened to an average of 5 days. 

[clandesadventures]

Yellowstone Day 1: Old Faithful, Morning Glory, Beehive Geyser, Excelsior Geyser Crater, and Grand Prismatic AKA “Great Pristine”

[whiskeygin23]

The crater by fabriziocasale