The existence of the Yellowstone geothermal area was confirmed in the 1870s. In 1872 it became the World’s 1st National Park. The park is centred on the Caldera of an active volcano. A Caldera is the collapsed remains of an older super volcano.
This area is known as a “hotspot”. This means that it is still volcanically active. As a result some water that flows through the local aquifer (underground water supply) gets vaporised (turned to steam). This leads to geothermal features, called Geysers, being formed where this steam erupts through to the surface. The most famous geyser is known as Old Faithful.
Yellowstone is actually home to 3 calderas. Each formed by massive volcanic eruptions. These happened 2.1 m.y.a., 1.3 m.y.a. and 640,000 years ago (m.y.a.=millions of years ago). The largest Caldera is 85 km wide (Dublin-Portlaoise) and 45 km long (Dublin-Bettystown).
The area still experiences earthquake and volcanic activity. Volcanic gasses have been known to escape in the area. Some of these can be harmful to life.
As well as being a unique geological area it is also home to a wide variety of animals like the mighty Bison, Wolverine, Grizzly Bear and Puma to name a few.
This area is known as a “hotspot”. This means that it is still volcanically active. As a result some water that flows through the local aquifer (underground water supply) gets vaporised (turned to steam). This leads to geothermal features, called Geysers, being formed where this steam erupts through to the surface. The most famous geyser is known as Old Faithful.
Yellowstone is actually home to 3 calderas. Each formed by massive volcanic eruptions. These happened 2.1 m.y.a., 1.3 m.y.a. and 640,000 years ago (m.y.a.=millions of years ago). The largest Caldera is 85 km wide (Dublin-Portlaoise) and 45 km long (Dublin-Bettystown).
The area still experiences earthquake and volcanic activity. Volcanic gasses have been known to escape in the area. Some of these can be harmful to life.
As well as being a unique geological area it is also home to a wide variety of animals like the mighty Bison, Wolverine, Grizzly Bear and Puma to name a few.