Established in 1872, Yellowstone National Park, is a vast expanse adorned with snow-capped mountains, dense forests, towering cliffs, a diverse array of wildlife, unique plant life, and, notably, an abundance of geysers and other striking hydrothermal features. Given all that, it’s no wonder this park, which sprawls across 2.2 million acres over three U.S. states, conceals a trove of secrets. Let’s take a look at just a handful of things you didn’t know about the park.
10. It was the first National park in the world
Yep. Yellowstone National Park holds the distinction of being not just the country’s first national park, established on March 1, 1872, by the U.S. Congress – but the first in the world. It all started with the Northern Pacific Railroad Company’s plans to extend tracks into Montana, near the present Yellowstone area. Recognizing the tourism potential to bolster the local economy, the company advocated for a significant expedition in 1870, generating attention-grabbing reports about Yellowstone’s natural scenery. This endeavor set the stage for the Yellowstone Park Act in 1872, which placed the park under the guardianship of the US Department of the Interior, safeguarding it from private interests. So interestingly, it was a profit-driven corporation that pushed for the park’s protection from similar profit-oriented entities, aiming to capitalize on tourism.
Before 1872, the notion of national parks as we understand them today had not materialized. So while natural reserves and state parks like Yosemite existed, the idea of federally safeguarding a tract of land due to its intrinsic natural beauty, and curtailing commercial exploitation there, was a novel concept.
9. More than half the world’s geysers are in Yellowstone
Old Faithful might come to mind first when you think of Yellowstone, but it’s just the tip of the iceberg. Yellowstone National Park is practically bursting with geysers, boasting a staggering 500 geysers (give or take) scattered across its grounds. In fact, Yellowstone harbors more geysers than the rest of the planet combined. It’s all thanks to substantial volcanic activity and frequent minor earthquakes, Yellowstone’s geysers remain unclogged, unlike those in many other places on Earth where mineral crystallization seals up geyser-producing cracks and vents.
Yet, geysers aren’t the only hydrothermal stars of Yellowstone. This dynamic landscape, in a perpetual state of shifting and rumbling, gives birth to an array of hydrothermal features. The most common among these are hot springs, formed when rainwater seeps through the Earth’s surface and gets superheated by volcanic gases below. Additionally, mudpots, fumaroles (also known as steam vents), and travertine terraces (limestone transformed into mesmerizing formations by rising thermal water and heat-loving organisms) are part of this geothermal ensemble. Geysers, those majestic towers of erupting water, are actually the rarest hydrothermal feature, created when heated water struggles to reach the surface due to natural blockages, resulting in massive jets of hot water.
8. Old faithful is less faithful than you think
Yellowstone National Park stands as a top-tier destination for nature enthusiasts craving vast, untamed landscapes you can’t find anywhere else. With its expansive mountains, dense forests, abundant wildlife, sweeping steppes, and a multitude of lakes and rivers, it encapsulates everything an outdoor enthusiast could dream of. But there’s one iconic image that dominates Yellowstone postcards: Old Faithful.
Old Faithful, indisputably the world’s most renowned geyser, earned its moniker by faithfully sending towering plumes of scalding water into the sky at regular intervals. A visit to Yellowstone is almost incomplete without witnessing this natural spectacle, with a near-guarantee of experiencing its awe-inspiring eruptions, shooting over 130 feet high. Over the years, however, Old Faithful has subtly deviated from its punctual nature. Initially erupting every 60-70 minutes when first discovered in the 1870s, it now follows a slightly more relaxed rhythm, boasting intervals of 77-78 minutes. Various factors, including rainfall and seismic activity, can influence this interval period, but even with these changes, Old Faithful retains its well-deserved name and allure.
7. Yellowstone has its own Grand Canyon
Okay, it may not outdo the Grand Canyon, a household name, but the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone still holds its own. Born from the ashes of Yellowstone’s supervolcano eruption some 630,000 years ago, this canyon flaunts an intricate tapestry of multicolored rock layers, presenting researchers with a window into the region’s ancient geological narrative. For casual hikers, the vistas stretching over immense distances and the sight of waterfalls plummeting up to 308 feet to the canyon floor below make the journey entirely worthwhile. And who knows, a visit might also grant you a glimpse of birds of prey like Ospreys, showcasing their natural grace outside the confines of a zoo.
Still on the fence about taking a detour for this 20-mile-long, 1,000-foot-deep, 1,500 to 4,000-foot-wide expansive marvel? Quoting explorer Nathaniel P. Langford’s awe-filled words from 1870, captured upon his first encounter with the canyon, it induced profound introspection on his “own littleness, my helplessness, my dread exposure to destruction, my inability to cope with or even comprehend the mighty architecture of nature…”. Sounds pretty “grand” to us.
6. Humans have lived there for 11,000 years
When Lewis and Clark ventured into what we now call Yellowstone National Park during their famous expedition, they weren’t exactly pioneering into an untouched wilderness. They were a bit tardy to the gathering: humans had already set foot there thousands of years before. In fact, the first human settlements in Yellowstone date back roughly 11,000 years, a staggering span that predates even the earliest known historical records. To put it in perspective, these ancient Yellowstone societies predate the Ancient Babylonians by twice as many years as the Ancient Babylonians precede us today. Over millennia, these societies thrived, adapting to the changing yet generally favorable climate that generously provided food and resources.
However, as the 19th century dawned and contact with European and American settlers occurred, the narrative changed. Early explorers like Lewis and Clark, followed by frontiersmen, fur trappers, and gold seekers, set their sights on the western frontier. Along with them came gunpowder, new cultures, languages, and, unfortunately, the all-too-familiar tale of disruption for the indigenous peoples who had resided in the region for countless generations. Ultimately, the encroaching United States government would extend its authority over this land.
5. Yellowstone has an obsidian cliff
Okay, Yellowstone’s Obsidian Cliff might not be straight out of some dark RPG, but it’s still pretty cool. The cliff’s formation traces back to lava that cooled rapidly without crystallizing, resulting in a thin, dark, glass-like material known as obsidian. Given Yellowstone’s volcanic activity, obsidian can be found scattered throughout the park, but this cliff stands out — a towering 98 feet of exposed vertical thickness that captivates the eye.
Yet, the intrigue doesn’t end at its visual appeal. The Obsidian Cliff holds a rich history intertwined with human activity. The devastating 1988 Yellowstone wildfire cleared the cliffside of vegetation, offering researchers an unobstructed view to study its features. Their investigations revealed that humans began mining obsidian from this mountainside almost immediately upon their arrival in the region 11,000 years ago. The versatile material lent itself to crafting an array of tools, valued for its sharpness and solid composition, making it exceptionally practical for early hunter-gatherer societies. Obsidian artifacts from this cliff made their way across vast distances, comprising up to 90% of the obsidian found in Hopewell tradition mortuary sites scattered throughout the American Midwest, particularly in the Ohio River Valley.
4. You might be able to get away with murder in Yellowstone’s zone of death
While we certainly hope you never find yourself needing to come here, if you’re ever musing about the best place to commit a crime (hypothetically speaking, of course), Yellowstone might surprise you — not for the reasons you’d expect, though. Situated in the vast middle of nowhere, the park presents a secluded setting, reducing the likelihood of being caught in the act. But that’s not all. There’s an intriguing legal quirk that could serve as an unexpected advantage for those considering such dark thoughts: the “Zone of Death” in Yellowstone’s Idaho region.
Though thankfully never utilized, legal scholars point out a curious scenario in this remote part of the park. In the unlikely event that a crime were to occur here, a shrewd defendant could invoke their Sixth Amendment right to be judged by a jury from the state and federal district where the crime transpired. The twist lies in the jurisdictional arrangement: Wyoming governs all of Yellowstone, including the portion in Idaho. However, since no residents occupy the Idaho section under Wyoming’s jurisdiction, convening a jury becomes an impossible task, effectively stalling any trial or legal repercussions. A quirk like this certainly wasn’t in the minds of the Founding Fathers when drafting the Constitution, but perhaps it’s a nudge for Congress to consider redrawing these legal boundaries to avoid something horrible happening.
3. Forest fires are par for the course here
In Yellowstone National Park, forest fires aren’t just a destructive force; they’re a vital and routine part of the natural cycle. Fires play a role in the rejuvenation of the ecosystem, acting as a cleansing force that levels the playing field, enabling surviving plant and animal species to flourish once the smoke clears. This process results in a diverse “mosaic” of plant communities, each growing at their own pace, which is crucial for maintaining a robust and vibrant environment.
Typically ignited by lightning strikes in dry areas, these fires have a positive impact on nutrient cycles within the ecosystem. While most fires are relatively small and self-extinguishing, the arrival of European settlers shifted the dynamics. Settlers aimed to control and contain fires to protect certain species of animals and plants. However, this human intervention disrupted the natural cycle that had shaped the local environment for centuries. Despite the benefits of controlling large fires, the challenge remains, particularly with climate change exacerbating the risk of uncontrolled and massive wildfires.
2. Yellowstone is an earthquake magnet
Yellowstone National Park, perched atop a colossal magma chamber responsible for more than half of the world’s geysers and geothermic features, is no stranger to seismic activity. In fact, the park witnesses a staggering 700 to 3,000 earthquakes each year. That’s an average of two to nine earthquakes per day, every day, over thousands of years. The park is characterized by earthquake “swarms” due to its numerous faults, vents, geysers, tectonic features, and the continual movement of magma between chambers.
Fortunately, not every visit to the park involves being jolted off cliffs or encountering boiling waterspouts. The majority of these earthquakes are minor tremors that the article refers to as essential for maintaining an open “plumbing” system beneath the earth’s surface. These quakes prevent mineral deposition that could otherwise seal off the park’s remarkable geysers. Moreover, the frequency of earthquakes provides researchers with invaluable insights, aiding in mapping and understanding the distinctive subsurface geology of the region.
1. The Yellowstone super volcano could kill us all
Let’s take a dive into the chilling scenario of a Yellowstone Caldera eruption, an immense supervolcano lying dormant beneath the national park, and the potential devastating consequences. It’s a grim forecast, and if this supervolcano were to awaken, it would likely mark the most catastrophic natural disaster in recorded history.
Leading up to the eruption, the park would experience months of escalating earthquakes as the colossal magma chamber beneath the surface stirred to life. The final catastrophic quake would align with an 875-megaton explosion, instantly claiming 90,000 lives with its shockwave. While most of the lava would either fall back into the crater or stop flowing at a considerable distance from the epicenter, humanity’s ordeal would just be commencing. Enormous ash clouds would spread out in all directions, shrouding nearby states like snow and releasing about “200 million tons of sulfur dioxide into the stratosphere.” This would obscure the sun and instigate a decade-long climate cooling phase, plunging the world into a global volcanic winter, devastating crops and triggering widespread famine, compounded by the specter of lung cancer due to the ash fallout. Yet, the reassuring note is that the likelihood of such a super-eruption happening within the next few centuries is considered smaller than a catastrophic asteroid impact on Earth.