The United States has one of the world's largest hot springs, the Grand Prismatic, also known as "one of the most beautiful sights on the earth's surface." In 1871, geologists discovered this amazing natural wonder and named it the "Grand Prismatic." The hot spring water is rich in minerals, which allows colored bacteria to thrive in the algae and colonies near the water's edge, creating a variety of colors, from green and crimson to orange. However, the center of the hot spring is too hot for organisms to survive. The colors radiate from inside to outside in different tiers of blue, green, yellow, orange, orange, and red. There is a wooden walkway around the Grand Prismatic, which takes about 40 minutes to complete. To appreciate the best view, it is recommended to observe from high ground overlooking the Grand Prismatic. If conditions do not permit, climbing along a low slope can still produce satisfying photographs.
Old Faithful Geyser
Old Faithful geyser is named after its regular eruptions. For over 100 years since it was discovered, the geyser erupts every 33-93 minutes and each eruption lasts four to five minutes with a water column reaching over 40 meters, never ceasing. The Old Faithful Visitor Center provides a schedule for the eruptions and visitors entering Yellowstone National Park from the west or south entrance can stop by the center to check the predicted eruption time before exploring nearby attractions.
Mammoth Hot Springs
Located in the northwest of Yellowstone National Park, it is the largest known carbonate sedimentary hot spring in the world. The landscape is mainly composed of limestone terraces, also known as the hot terrace area, which can be divided into the Upper Terraces and Lower Terraces. Mammoth Hot Spring originally had multiple hot springs flowing down the mountainside in tiers, nurturing a large number of bacteria and becoming a colorful staircase. However, after a crustal movement in 2002, most of the hot springs stopped functioning, causing a large number of microorganisms to die, making Mammoth Hot Spring lose its color. The dead bacteria also turned into gray-white powder, which remains on the dried-up terraces.
Located on the west side of Yellowstone Lake in the southern part of the Yellowstone National Park, the West Thumb Geyser Basin is a place full of beautiful hot springs. Here, visitors can see many lakeside hot springs and lake hot springs, among which the most striking are the lake hot springs. These hot springs gush out from the bottom of the lake, with different colors and shapes of the water spouts, some are transparent green, some are gemstone blue, and some are dark black. For visitors with limited time, it is recommended to prioritize visiting the Grand Prismatic Spring area.
The center of Yellowstone National Park is the Canyon area, and the most famous attraction is the Yellowstone Grand Canyon, which is 32 kilometers long and 360 meters deep. It boasts magnificent canyon scenery and waterfalls, with Lookout Point being the best viewing spot. The lower waterfall, which is 94 meters high, is one of the highest waterfalls in terms of drop height. The viewing spot is Artist Point, with trails including Uncle Tom's Trail and Brink of Lower Fall Trail. The former offers views of the Lower Yellowstone Falls, while the latter provides views of the Upper Yellowstone Falls. Uncle Tom's Trail is recommended to be walked first. In addition, there are viewing points on the other side of the Yellowstone Grand Canyon, including Lookout Point, Grand View, and Inspiration Point, which are excellent viewing locations, but the road is one way, so it is better to first drive to Canyon Village. If time is tights, these attractions should not be missed.
In the Yellowstone Caldera, there is a unique phenomenon called mud pots. Instead of spouting clear water, these geysers erupt with viscous mud. The most famous mud pot is the Fountain Paint Pot, which continuously spews hot, colorful mud, leaving a lasting impression on visitors.
Norris Geyser Basin is located within Yellowstone National Park and is a collection of geysers. It is home to the world's largest geyser, Steamboat Geyser, which rarely erupts but when it does, reaches astonishing heights. The water also comes in a variety of colors, including clear blue-green and a soft blue-white resembling milk. Due to the instability of the geysers, new ones emerge every year while old ones may go dormant. Echinus Geyser is a famous acidic hot spring in the area, while most of Yellowstone's hot springs are alkaline. It has a very low pH, similar to lemon juice. Other famous geysers include Pearl Geyser, Porcelain Basin, Ledge Geyser, and Colloidal Pool. Visitors can also admire the orange or green rivers formed by bacteria, adding to the natural beauty of the area.
There are over 40 waterfalls of various sizes in Yellowstone National Park, among which this waterfall is one of the most prominent. Its source is in the Tower Creek River, at an altitude of 1,933 meters, with a total length of 40 meters. This waterfall is located 3 miles south of Roosevelt Junction and can be admired along the way to Tower-Canyon.
Yellowstone Lake
Yellowstone National Park is located in the southeast, where Yellowstone Lake area is the main attraction with beautiful lake views and abundant wildlife. With an area of about 354 square kilometers, Yellowstone Lake is a typical caldera lake and the "largest high-altitude lake in the United States". The lake is surrounded by cold evergreen trees such as spruce and fir, which provide habitat to many birds and wildlife, as well as a great place for fishing and boating enthusiasts. Its shape resembles a hand with a thumb-like extension on the western side, known as West Thumb, which is a famous hot spring area. Looking at the lake from West Thumb, the shoreline is vibrant with color and constantly changing, revealing signs of hot springs erupting from the bottom of the lake. In winter, the lake freezes and is covered in snow, offering a spectacular view in harmony with the distant snow-capped mountains.
Hayden Valley
The highlight of Hayden Valley is watching animals. As you drive, you'll see many places where crowds gather, and instead of cannons, there are telescopes placed on tripods. You can gaze at the mountain ranges shrouded in mist and watch as wild buffalo appear in various poses, offering the chance to observe various wildlife behaviors.
