The Ground Over Yellowstone Is Rising

On March 29th, earthquakes began and continued until the end of the month. Apparently, earthquakes come in swarms, so be aware. Experts say that Yellowstone's seismic activity is more active than usual, but it's nothing serious. Yellowstone Volcano Observatory geophysicist Michael Poland claims the volcano won't erupt anytime soon. For an eruption to occur, there must be enough magma ready to erupt beneath the surface and enough pressure to cause it to rise. These conditions don't exist today, according to the expert. Yellowstone is currently stable. However, Poland and his team monitor underground activity for warning signs of possible eruptions, such as the frequency of earthquakes and changes in the surface of the ground. They also monitor the temperature of the park's thermal features, geyser activity, and gas and thermal emissions. Despite media claims that Yellowstone is due to erupt soon because the last eruption was 70,000 years ago, experts say this is a popular misconception. Volcanoes don't follow timelines. If a super eruption did occur, the most worrying consequence would be ash and ashfall, not lava flows or earthquakes. Let's take a look at Yellowstone's past eruptions. There have been at least three super eruptions, with the most powerful being 2500 times more devastating than the Mount St Helens eruption in 1980. The most recent super eruption was called the Lava Creek eruption, which formed the Yellowstone caldera. Scientists have also discovered two previously unknown super eruptions that occurred around 9 and 8.7 million years ago. The younger of the two is now considered the largest recorded event in the Snake River Yellowstone volcanic province.

Yellowstone National Park, America's first National Park, offers truly unique experiences like spectacular hiking trails, beautiful views, Old Faithful, and geysers shooting water 100 feet into the air. Plan your visit with NPF's resources.

When the first visitors to Yellowstone tried to report what they saw, news magazines responded, “Thank you, but we do not print fiction.” Peppered with colorful hot springs, mudpots, and breathtaking waterfalls, it is easy to understand how one might think it otherworldly. Nothing else on Earth is quite like Yellowstone--and there is something for everyone, from children to grandparents.

Established in 1872 and located primarily in Wyoming, Yellowstone National Park was America's first national park. To this day, Yellowstone remains one of the country's most popular national parks with millions of annual visitors. Yellowstone spans almost 3,500 miles, and extends into parts of Montana and Idaho, making it one of the largest national parks in the US.

Yellowstone National Park sits on top of a dormant volcano and is home to more geysers and hot springs than any other place on earth. Wonders abound at this truly unique national park, from sites like the Yellowstone Grand Canyon to wildlife like America’s largest buffalo herd, grizzly bears, and wolves. Approximately 50 percent of the world’s hydrothermal features are at Yellowstone National Park, creating an effect that makes the ground appear to be on fire. The most famous of all the geysers is Old Faithful, one of the most popular and recognized natural wonders in the United States.

Yellowstone National Park is a nearly 3,500-sq.-mile wilderness recreation area atop a volcanic hot spot. Mostly in Wyoming, the park spreads into parts of Montana and Idaho too. Yellowstone features dramatic canyons, alpine rivers, lush forests, hot springs and gushing geysers, including its most famous, Old Faithful. It's also home to hundreds of animal species, including bears, wolves, bison, elk and antelope.

Yellowstone is home to more than 500 active geysers (more than half the world's geysers). Grand Geyser erupting in Yellowstone's Upper Geyser Basin. Grand Geyser is one of only a handful of geysers that are predictable.