We entered Yellowstone National Park at the North Entrance. President Grant signed a bill into law setting aside 2.2 million acres, making Yellowstone the world’s first national park on March 1, 1872. Yellowstone is in northwest Wyoming and spreads into Montana and Idaho, too.
Our first stop for some exploration was at Mammoth Hot Springs.
Yellowstone has the most geysers and hot springs in one place. This is an area where hot magma deep underground bubbles close to the earth’s crust.
In this area hot water full of minerals bubbles to the surface. These springs have formed beautiful limestone terraces and colorful pools.
This was a very windy day and many people lost their hats. There are several warning signs telling you to stay on the boardwalks built for visitors safety and not to throw any foreign objects on the thermal fields. I guess the wind decided to break the rules!
Hang on to your hats!
The park’s thermal features include geysers, fumaroles, mud pots, and hot springs. A fumerole is an opening in or near a volcano, through which hot sulfurous gases emerge.
This was our hottest day in the park and we were happy to have cooler days. From this spot on the northwest side of the park we headed south with several stops before we reached our room for the night at the Old Faithful Inn.
Today was a very unproductive day for me at this old house. It always takes me a while to recuperate after being away from home.
The Happy Wonderer ~ ellen b. 