The Geysers Of Yellowstone

This revised popular field guide describes in detail each of the more than 700 geysers in Yellowstone National Park. With updated information, Geysers of Yellowstone is both a reference work and a fine introduction to the nature of geyser activity for the newcomer to geothermal phenomena. A glossary of key terms is provided, along with a comprehensive appendix that discusses other geyser areas of the world. Detailed maps accompany each geyser basin described, and tables are provided for easy reference. One of the prime duties of the National Park Service is to preserve areas in a "natural state." In Yellowstone this job includes protecting the mountains, lakes, wildlife, and the rarest gift of all-the geyser basins. Why, then, are such unnatural things as boardwalks and paved paths strung out through geyser basins?The sinter hot spring deposits are unique, many taking centuries to form. As solid as they look, geyserite formations are very brittle, easily destroyed and eroded away. By staying on the boardwalks you are walking over-not on-the sinter, protecting it for future generations.The boardwalks help protect you, too. From them, virtually every geyser can be seen, always in complete safety. The areas away from the trails hold many hidden dangers. In the backcountry, always stay well clear of any hot spring; some have dangerously thin overhangs about their craters. If you've ever stuck a finger into a pot of boiling water, you can begin to imagine what falling into Yellowstone's hot pools might be like.So, stay on the boardwalk. It's a simple rule, easy to follow and obey. People who fail to do so are subject to arrest as well as injury. By keeping to the trail, you helppreserve the greatest geyser field in the world, and, last but certainly not least, you will leave with pleasant memories rather than painful or even deadly thermal burns.