Adventures With Amy | Montana 2004

Montana 2004: Yellowstone National Park

In 1872 Yellowstone National Park was established making it the world's first national park. Yellowstone's name is historically credited to the Native Americans who lived in and around the park area. The name is basically derived from the Yellowstone River. The Yellowstone River has high yellow rock cliffs along its banks in the northern area of the present day park. The Native American Minnetaree tribe called the river "Mi tsi a da zi," which means "Rock Yellow River." French fur trappers translated this to "Yellow Rock" or "Yellow Stone." Hence Yellowstone was named.

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We entered Yellowstone National Park at the North Entrance in Montana. The first stopping point was Mammoth Hot Springs. The main attraction at Mammoth Hot Springs is the terraces. Heat, water, limestone, and rock fracture combine to create the terraces. Travertine is deposited as white rock, however the microorganisms and living bacteria (thermophiles) create beautiful shades of oranges, pinks, yellows, greens, and browns. The Mammoth Hot springs are constantly changing. As formations grow, water is forced to flow in different directions. The constant changes in water and mineral deposits create a living sculpture.

The 80 foot tall Gibbon Falls (to the right) is located halfway between Madison Junction and the Norris Geyser Basin. The falls mark the place where the Gibbon River falls of the Northern enscarpment into the Yellowstone Caldera.

The infamous Old Faithful geyser (shown below) got its name because of its punctuality and predictability. Eruptions at Old Faithful last anywhere from 1 to 5 minutes spraying water and steam up to 184 ft high. An earthquake occurring in the winter of 1998, effected the time interval of Old Faithful. Eruptions now occur approximately every 80 minutes.

Fountain Paint Pot Nature Trail (shown below).

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