Click on the map to enlarge it. map of Yellowstone Logo for Caswell's Yellowstone
information about this siteAbout This Site
planning your trip to YellowstonePlanning Your Trip -- Detailed Expanations
Old Faithful and Yellowstone geothermal areasOld Faithful & the Geothermal Areas
From Madison Junction to Old FaithfulRoad South to Old Faithful
Old Faithful and Geyser HillOld Faithful and Geyser Hill
Upper Geyser BasinUpper Geyser Basin
Old Faithful VillageOld Faithful Village
Old Faithful VillageMud Volcano Area
Old Faithful VillageNorris Geyser Basin
Yellowstone Lake areaYellowstone Lake
Grand Canyon of the YellowstoneGrand Canyon of the Yellowstone
Mammoth Hot Springs and the Mammoth terracesMammoth Hot Springs
A wildlfe safari into the Lamar ValleyWildlife Safari in the Lamar Valley
Grand Teton National ParkGrand Teton National Park
This travelogue is one family's experience in Yellowstone. To see a photo in a 1024 x 681 size, just click on it. We hope you enjoy the record of our journey, and that you get to experience your own. Note: Stock photos of these and many other images with reproduction rights are available in their original 3008 x 2000 size. We also have a screen saver. Click here for more information.
The Norris Geyser Basin is the hottest geothermal area in the park and is one of its must-see attractions. It's located in the mid-Western area of the park about 30 miles north of the Old Faithful area. The picture to the right is the Emerald Spring, which is a 27-foot deep pool lined with yellow Sulphur deposits. The yellow color fromthe sulphur combines with the blue reflected light from the water to create an emerald effect.
Steamboat geyser is the world's tallest geyser when it erupts, reaching heights above 300 feet. Unfortunately, it last erupted in 2005, and there is no schedule to predict its next one. Even though it does not erupt very often, it frequently has small bursts that can reach as high as 35 feet.
Cistern Spring is a good example of how living organisms can affect the hot springs. Click on the picture to read about this in more detail.
Cistern Spring is located near the giant Steamboat Geyser and drains of water when Steamboat erupts. After a couple of days, the spring fills back up.
Iron, arcenic, manganese, and aluminum are found in deposits surronding the highly-acidic Equinus geyser. Like Steamboat, Equinus geyser erupts infrequently.
My wife, Teresa, described the view from the Back Basin at the Norris Geyser Basin as, "Mars with pine trees." The hot grounds and acidic waters has killed most of the trees and turned the area into Procol Harum's Ghostly Shade of Pale.
The Ruff 'N Stuff geyser is a nasty hole in the ground that almost constantly spews steam.
A fallen tree with its roots sticking up lies quietly in front of a boiling hot spring towards the end of the Back Basin.
A nearby hot spring shows the devastation to surrounding trees as the hot ground continues to spread its destruction in what was once a green forest.
Steam boils from the mouth of a small cave near a hot spring in the Norris Geyser Basin.
If you think my wife may have been exaggerating by called it, "Mars with pine trees," take a look at this view. The entire area is filled with dead trees and ghostly, white ground.
The Porkchop geyser is in an area that is slowly killing all of the trees as the ground nearby heats up.
The tiny Pearl geyser gives off a creamy, pale bluish reflection in its opaque waters.
Click here to tour the Old Faithful area>
© 2009 by Stephen Caswell. All Rights Reserved.