Yellowstone – the oldest national park in the world

Yellowstone, established on March 1, 1872, is the oldest national park in the world. Located on the territory of three states – Wyoming, Montana and Idaho – the park with an area of more than 8,900 square kilometers was created to protect unique geothermal phenomena, diverse flora and fauna and spectacular landscapes. It was the first example of conscious conservation, which sparked a global movement to create national parks.

Yellowstone’s geothermal wonders

Yellowstone National Park is a unique geothermal laboratory that attracts the attention of both tourists and scientists from around the world. It is here that the world’s largest concentration of geothermal formations is located – more than 10,000 structures. Geysers, hot springs, fumaroles and mud volcanoes create a remarkably diverse landscape that is a testament to the powerful forces of nature working beneath the earth’s surface.

Geysers

Geysers are created by underground reservoirs of water that are heated by magma near the surface. When the vapor pressure reaches a critical level, water and gases explode, creating a spectacular show.

One of the park’s most recognizable symbols is Old Faithful, a geyser known for its regularity. Every 90 minutes or so, it ejects a column of boiling water and steam up to 56 meters high, making it one of the most predictable of its kind in the world. Yellowstone is the location of many other geysers, such as Castle Geyser, characterized by long eruptions, and Steamboat Geyser, the world’s tallest – its eruptions can reach heights of more than 90 meters.

Hot springs

Notable among Yellowstone’s hot springs is the Grand Prismatic Spring, the largest in the United States and the third largest in the world. Its diameter is about 112 meters, and its depth reaches 50 meters. The unusual rainbow colors – from intense red, orange and yellow to turquoise green – are the result of the presence of thermophilic microorganisms. They live in waters with temperatures as high as 70°C, forming colorful biological mats around the spring. The center, where the temperature is highest, remains intensely blue due to light scattering.

Another fascinating spring is Mammoth Hot Springs, which is distinguished by its limestone terraces. These white and cream-colored formations are formed by the deposition of calcium carbonate leached from underground rocks by hot waters.

Fumarole

Fumaroles, also known as gas volcanoes, are holes in the ground from which hot steam and gases such as sulfur dioxide escape. In Yellowstone, the most popular place to observe fumaroles is the Norris Geyser Basin area, where the ground seems to breathe. The temperature of these fumes is so high that the water evaporates before it has time to rise to the surface, creating spectacular clouds of steam.

Mud volcanoes

Mud vol canoes like Mud Volcano and Sulphur Caldron are other unusual geothermal formations of Yellowstone. They are formed where hot water mixes with sediments rich in clay and minerals. The bubbling mud puddles emit an intense sulfur smell, which is the result of chemical reactions occurring below the surface.

Yellowstone super volcano – the mighty heart of the park

Beneath the surface of Yellowstone National Park lies the caldera of a supervolcano – one of the most dangerous geological phenomena on Earth. It was formed as a result of three massive eruptions 2.1 million, 1.3 million and 640,000 years ago. years. The last one ejected more than 1,000 km³ of volcanic material, creating giant ash deposits that covered much of North America. The eruption was so powerful that the roof of the magma chamber collapsed, forming today’s caldera about 70 km in diameter.

Today, under the caldera, at a depth of 5-14 kilometers, there is a gigantic magma reservoir with a volume of approx. 25,000. km³. Magma in a partially liquid state indicates potential activity. Although the probability of an eruption in the next thousand years is low (0.0001 percent per year), the supervolcano is constantly monitored. Its eruption could have catastrophic consequences for the global climate and life on Earth.

Biodiversity

Yellowstone National Park is one of the most biologically diverse areas in the world. It spans a variety of ecological zones, from vast prairies to dense forests, high mountain meadows and geothermal areas. As a result, the park is home to hundreds of animal and plant species, which together form a dynamic and complex ecosystem.

Yellowstone fauna

Yellowstone is a symbol of North America’s wildlife. It is home to the largest population of free-ranging bison in the United States. Currently numbering about 4,900 individuals, the herd is the only one to have survived since pre-colonial times.

Grizzly bears, icons of American wildlife, are some of the largest predators in Yellowstone. They coexist with black bears, which are smaller but more numerous. The park is also home to Canada lynx, pumas, coyotes and foxes, which are an integral part of the food chain. In addition, Yellowstone is home to moose, mule deer, caribou and mouflons.

A particular conservation success story in Yellowstone is the reintroduction of the gray wolf in 1995. After years of absence due to the extirpation of the species in the early 20th century, wolves were reintroduced into the park. Currently, the pack numbers about 100 individuals. Their presence has restored the balance of the ecosystem, affecting the population of wapiti deer and other species, resulting in improved vegetation and biodiversity in the valleys.

Richness of avifauna

The park is also a paradise for ornithologists. Yellowstone is home to more than 300 species of birds, including bald eagles, which reign supreme in the sky, and endangered peregrine falcons, which have found refuge here. The lakes and wetlands are home to numerous water birds, such as ducks, geese and pelicans. Songbirds, such as orioles and finches, enrich the park’s soundscape.

Underwater world and microorganisms

Yellowstone’s rivers, lakes and geothermal springs are home to fish, such as brook trout and rainbow trout, which attract anglers from around the world. The hot springs and fumaroles are home to extremophiles – microorganisms that have adapted to life in extreme temperatures. Research on them is important not only for ecology, but also for astrobiology, as they provide clues to life under conditions currently found on other planets.

Flora of Yellowstone

The park is home to more than 1,700 species of vascular plants. Yellowstone’s forests consist mainly of dune pine, spruce, fir and larch, which form extensive forest ecosystems. River valleys are home to willows, poplars and alders, which are essential for the birds and mammals that inhabit these areas.

In spring and summer, mountain meadows explode with the colors of thousands of wildflowers, such as hollyhocks, mountain sunflowers and ninetails. These plants not only attract pollinating insects, but also provide a source of food for herbivores.

Threats to the oldest national park

The park faces a number of challenges, including tourist pressure, with some 4 million visitors a year. Crowds can threaten the fragile ecosystem, and excessive human interference with nature leads to its degradation. Scientists and park managers are working on strategies to sustainably manage tourism to preserve Yellowstone’s natural beauty.

pic. main: Nina Luong / Unsplash