|
Yellowstone National Park: Upper Geyser Basin Our first look at the Upper Geyser Basin, home of Old Faithful.
At the heart of Yellowstone's past, present, and future lies volcanism. About 2 million years ago, then 1.3 million years ago, and again 640,000 years ago, huge volcanic eruptions occurred here. The latest spewed out nearly 240 cubic miles of debris. The park's present central portion collapsed, forming a 30- by 45-mile caldera, or basin. The magmatic heat powering those eruptions still powers the park's geysers, hot spring, fumaroles, and mud pots. Early in the 19th century, fur traders traveling through the West brought back stories of waterfalls which spewed upward, and of "fire and brimstone" bubbling from the earth. Their tales were met with skepticism, and it wasn't until the mid-1800s that serious explorations discovered the wonders of Yellowstone. Read more about the history of our first national park.
|
