Images

Regional shaded relief map of the Eastern Snake River Plain (ESRP). The map highlights the low relief terrain of the ESRP and the dramatic rhyolite domes that punctuate it. Map by Zach Lifton, Idaho Geological Survey.

River levels and vertical deformation of Yellowstone caldera during 2016–2022.  River level (blue) was measured at the Corwin Springs gaging station on the Yellowstone River, just north of Yellowstone National Park.  Vertical deformation (red) is from the WLWY GPS station on the east side of Yellowstone caldera.  The GPS data indicate overall subsiden

Map of Yellowstone caldera showing the locations and ages of the most recent rhyolite eruptions at Yellowstone, the Central Plateau Member rhyolites. Unit boundaries are from Christiansen (2001).

Bison in Yellowstone National Park. USGS photo by Jennifer Lewicki, September 20, 2023.

A view of the Grand Prismatic Hot Spring from the vantage point of the Grand Prismatic Overlook Trail in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming. 

A rainbow rises over Ledge Geyser in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming. "Ledge is the second largest geyser in the Norris Geyser Basin, capable of shooting water 125 feet into the air. Because it erupts at an angle, however, the water will sometimes reach the ground 220 feet away." - NPS

The famous Old Faithful geyser begins an eruption as visitors watch in the distance. This view is looking from Beehive Geyser toward Old Faithful.

A view of Castle Geyser erupting as a rainbow rises out and over the eruption. Castle Geyser is located in the Upper Geyser Basin of Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming.

"Ear Spring is a truly hot spring, with surface water temperatures often above the boiling point of 198°F (92°C) at this elevation. True to its name, this pool is shaped somewhat like an ear." - NPS

An explosive eruption of silica water erupts from Beehive Geyser located in the Upper Geyser Basin in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming. The Upper Geyser Basin is also home to the famous Old Faithful geyser which sits just behind Beehive Geyser in the distance.

A foggy, early morning view looking down the Gibbon River, off of Grand Loop Rd in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming.

Looking down from the lookout point at Brink of Lower Falls, over the Yellowstone River, as it flows eastward through the "Grand Canyon of Yellowstone".

Looking down from the lookout point at Brink of Lower Falls, over the Yellowstone River, as it flows south into the distance.

Need time to concentrate or relax? Then listen to the natural sounds of Rustic Falls in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming. Rustic Falls is a few miles south of Mammoth Hot Springs in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming.

Need time to concentrate or relax? Then listen to the natural sounds of Kepler Cascades in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming. Kepler Cascades is located just a couple miles away from Old Faithful within Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming. 

Looking down on the lower portion of Artists' Paintpots in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming. Artists' Paintpots is a hydrothermal area with many colorful mud pots, hot springs, and geysers.

A view of Roaring Mountain in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming. "Roaring Mountain is a large, acidic thermal area (solfatara) that contains many steam vents (fumaroles). In the late 1800s and early 1900s, the number, size, and power of the fumaroles was much greater than today." (NPS)

On the drive south of Mammoth Springs, you pass through Silver Gate which is a landslide deposit of travertine stone at least 400,000 years old. 

Mount Everts, as seen from Mammoth Hot Springs near the North Entrance of Yellowstone National Park.

GPS data from station P716, near Canyon Village, spanning 2005–2023. Top plot shows motion in a north-south direction (positive change is north), middle is east-west motion (positive change is east), and bottom plot is up-down motion (positive change is up).

Section of a sediment core from Rush Lake, Lower Geyser Basin, Yellowstone National Park.