Yellowstone National Park’s Geothermal Features by Aryan Doshi

     Yellowstone National Park was the first national park established, officially gaining the title on March 1, 1872. A crucial factor in naming Yellowstone a national park was the land containing unique geothermal features. Geothermal features are structures that involve water warmed up by magma. There are four types, geysers, fumaroles, hot springs, and mud pots. These are all found in Yellowstone National Park, the only place where this is the case.

Geysers are structures that shoot water and water vapor through a hole or crack. Examples of this are Old Faithful and Steamboat Geyser. Geysers contain a chamber underneath the surface. In this chamber, water is constantly flowing. Magma underneath warms up the water, eventually building up pressure for an eruption. When the pressure exceeds the limit, the hot water exits. The process repeats as long as the main factors are intact. 

Fumaroles are very similar to geysers. They also emit steam through a hole or crack in the surface. Through these openings, carbon dioxide and sulfur dioxide come up to the surface. The gasses are a result of the magma burning within the Earth. 

Hot Springs are ponds of boiling or close to boiling water. They are essentially the chambers found in geysers, but above the surface and visible. Furthermore, they are colorful. This is because bacteria live in the springs. Hot Springs can be bright blue, green, yellow

Mudpots are my favorite geothermal feature. They are pits of boiling and bubbling mud. Hydrogen Sulfide gas is emitted as a result of magma. However, this hydrogen sulfide gas is consumed by bacteria as food. These bacteria release sulfuric acid as a byproduct. The sulfuric acid melts rock and soil and is warmed by hot water, creating boiling mud.

Yellowstone is like nowhere else in the world. The geothermal features are incredibly intriguing to learn about and see in person. I recommend that everyone should visit Yellowstone once because the views and features are beautiful. Pictures do not do justice. The national park provides a perspective of the changes and progression of Earth. Overall, it is truly remarkable environment. 

https://www.nps.gov/subjects/geothermal/about.htm 

https://www.nps.gov/articles/geothermal-features.htm#:~:text=Subsurface%20magma%20heats%20groundwater%2C%20creating,most%20well%20known%20geothermal%20feature. 

https://openei.org/wiki/Modern_Geothermal_Features