In Yellowstone, a clue about whether a thermal feature is acidic or basic is the style of the feature. Pools of water are generally basic, while mud pots are acidic. Blue Mud Steam Vent is a classic example of an acidic mud pot.
All Multimedia
Access all multimedia to include images, video, audio, webcams, before-after imagery, and more. Filter and explore with filtering options to refine search.
Filter Total Items: 26056
Blue Mud Steam Vent — Yellowstone National Park
In Yellowstone, a clue about whether a thermal feature is acidic or basic is the style of the feature. Pools of water are generally basic, while mud pots are acidic. Blue Mud Steam Vent is a classic example of an acidic mud pot.
Cinnamon Spouter — Yellowstone National Park
Cinnamon Spouter, in Black Sand Basin, has long stretches of bubbling activity. A “sizziling fracture” was first noticed at this location in 1933, but little more was noted until the current spouting pool developed in 1988–1989.
Cinnamon Spouter, in Black Sand Basin, has long stretches of bubbling activity. A “sizziling fracture” was first noticed at this location in 1933, but little more was noted until the current spouting pool developed in 1988–1989.
Congress Pool — Yellowstone National Park
Named for a visit in 1891 by members of the Fifth International Geological Congress, the feature in Norris Geyser Basin has behaved as a quiet pool, geyser, and roiling mud pot.
Named for a visit in 1891 by members of the Fifth International Geological Congress, the feature in Norris Geyser Basin has behaved as a quiet pool, geyser, and roiling mud pot.
Early Morning on the Gibbon River
A foggy, early morning view looking down the Gibbon River, off of Grand Loop Rd in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming.
A foggy, early morning view looking down the Gibbon River, off of Grand Loop Rd in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming.
Mudpot at Artists' Paintpots
This mudpot is located at the upper level of the trail at the Artists' Paintpots in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming. Some people will smell rotten eggs, others might even pick up the scent of hickory-smoked ham.
This mudpot is located at the upper level of the trail at the Artists' Paintpots in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming. Some people will smell rotten eggs, others might even pick up the scent of hickory-smoked ham.
Mudpot at Artists' Paintpots — Yellowstone National Park
Mud Pool is located near the Daisy Geyser complex, not far from Old Faithful. Since the 1980s it has acted as a perpetual spouter.
Mud Pool is located near the Daisy Geyser complex, not far from Old Faithful. Since the 1980s it has acted as a perpetual spouter.
Steamboat Geyser
"Tucked away in the Norris Geyser Basin is Steamboat Geyser, the world’s tallest active geyser. Its major eruptions shoot water more than 300 feet (91 m). Only Waimangu Geyser in New Zealand has rocketed to greater heights—but not in more than one hundred years.
"Tucked away in the Norris Geyser Basin is Steamboat Geyser, the world’s tallest active geyser. Its major eruptions shoot water more than 300 feet (91 m). Only Waimangu Geyser in New Zealand has rocketed to greater heights—but not in more than one hundred years.
Steamboat Geyser — Yellowstone National Park
The tallest geyser in the world, with eruptions that exceed 120 meters (400 feet), Steamboat Geyser is known for experiencing years of frequent eruptions followed by years to decades of very few eruptions. The geyser has been in a more active period since 2018.
The tallest geyser in the world, with eruptions that exceed 120 meters (400 feet), Steamboat Geyser is known for experiencing years of frequent eruptions followed by years to decades of very few eruptions. The geyser has been in a more active period since 2018.
Terrace Springs — Yellowstone National Park
Although Terrace Spring may appear to be boiling, but it’s temperature is a relatively cool 140 F (60 C). The roiling in the pol is caused by carbon dioxide bubbles. Thousands of years ago, when Yellowstone’s climate was wetter, the water of the springs had a different composition, allowing travertine to form—just like that seen today at Mammoth Hot Spring
Although Terrace Spring may appear to be boiling, but it’s temperature is a relatively cool 140 F (60 C). The roiling in the pol is caused by carbon dioxide bubbles. Thousands of years ago, when Yellowstone’s climate was wetter, the water of the springs had a different composition, allowing travertine to form—just like that seen today at Mammoth Hot Spring
Yellowstone River from Brink of Lower Falls
Looking down from the lookout point at Brink of Lower Falls, over the Yellowstone River, as it flows eastward through the "Grand Canyon of Yellowstone".
Looking down from the lookout point at Brink of Lower Falls, over the Yellowstone River, as it flows eastward through the "Grand Canyon of Yellowstone".
Yellowstone River from Brink of Lower Falls
Looking down from the lookout point at Brink of Lower Falls, over the Yellowstone River, as it flows south into the distance.
Looking down from the lookout point at Brink of Lower Falls, over the Yellowstone River, as it flows south into the distance.
Artists' Painpots
Looking down on the lower portion of Artists' Paintpots in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming. Artists' Paintpots is a hydrothermal area with many colorful mud pots, hot springs, and geysers.
Looking down on the lower portion of Artists' Paintpots in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming. Artists' Paintpots is a hydrothermal area with many colorful mud pots, hot springs, and geysers.
Cinnamon Spouter
Cinnamon Spouter is located on the Black Sand Basin Trail in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming.
Cinnamon Spouter is located on the Black Sand Basin Trail in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming.
East Chinaman Spring — Yellowstone National Park
This feature, not far from Old Faithful, has never been known to truly erupt. It gets its name from adjacent Chinaman Spring, which received its name because a concessioner (who might have been of Japanese descent) in the early days of the park used that spring as a laundry.
This feature, not far from Old Faithful, has never been known to truly erupt. It gets its name from adjacent Chinaman Spring, which received its name because a concessioner (who might have been of Japanese descent) in the early days of the park used that spring as a laundry.
Kepler Cascades
Need time to concentrate or relax? Then listen to the natural sounds of Kepler Cascades in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming. Kepler Cascades is located just a couple miles away from Old Faithful within Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming.
Need time to concentrate or relax? Then listen to the natural sounds of Kepler Cascades in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming. Kepler Cascades is located just a couple miles away from Old Faithful within Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming.
Kepler Cascades — Yellowstone National Park
The Firehole River drops 150 feet over three tiers in this cascade, or falls, located 2.5 miles upstream of Old Faithful. The name refers to Kepler Hoyt, the 12-year-old son of Wyoming’s territorial governor, who visited Yellowstone National Park in 1881. Philetus Norris, second superintendent of Yellowstone National Park, named the cascade.
The Firehole River drops 150 feet over three tiers in this cascade, or falls, located 2.5 miles upstream of Old Faithful. The name refers to Kepler Hoyt, the 12-year-old son of Wyoming’s territorial governor, who visited Yellowstone National Park in 1881. Philetus Norris, second superintendent of Yellowstone National Park, named the cascade.
Roaring Mountain
A view of Roaring Mountain in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming. "Roaring Mountain is a large, acidic thermal area (solfatara) that contains many steam vents (fumaroles). In the late 1800s and early 1900s, the number, size, and power of the fumaroles was much greater than today." (NPS)
A view of Roaring Mountain in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming. "Roaring Mountain is a large, acidic thermal area (solfatara) that contains many steam vents (fumaroles). In the late 1800s and early 1900s, the number, size, and power of the fumaroles was much greater than today." (NPS)
Rustic Falls
Need time to concentrate or relax? Then listen to the natural sounds of Rustic Falls in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming. Rustic Falls is a few miles south of Mammoth Hot Springs in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming.
Need time to concentrate or relax? Then listen to the natural sounds of Rustic Falls in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming. Rustic Falls is a few miles south of Mammoth Hot Springs in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming.
Rustic Falls — Yellowstone National Park
This waterfall on Glen Creek is in the Golden Gate area of Yellowstone National Park. The high cliffs on the west side of the canyon are ash deposits from a massive volcanic eruption 2.1 million years ago, while the massif (Bunsen Peak) on the east side is a block of magma that solidified in the shallow subsurface tens of millions of years ago.
This waterfall on Glen Creek is in the Golden Gate area of Yellowstone National Park. The high cliffs on the west side of the canyon are ash deposits from a massive volcanic eruption 2.1 million years ago, while the massif (Bunsen Peak) on the east side is a block of magma that solidified in the shallow subsurface tens of millions of years ago.
Frying Pan Spring — Yellowstone National Park
Sizzling ground, which is hot and has a small amount of water, resembles a frying pan. These features are acidic and can be found throughout Yellowstone National Park, although one of the best and most accessible examples is along the road just north of Norris Geyser Basin.
Sizzling ground, which is hot and has a small amount of water, resembles a frying pan. These features are acidic and can be found throughout Yellowstone National Park, although one of the best and most accessible examples is along the road just north of Norris Geyser Basin.
PubTalk-08/2023: Indigenous Communities in the United States: Leaders in Climate Adaptation
Indigenous Communities in the United States: Leaders in Climate Adaptation
By Aparna Bamzai-Dodson, USGS Physical Scientist,
Nicole Herman-Mercer, USGS Social Scientist
and Sheree Watson, USGS Ecologist
Learn About:
Indigenous Communities in the United States: Leaders in Climate Adaptation
By Aparna Bamzai-Dodson, USGS Physical Scientist,
Nicole Herman-Mercer, USGS Social Scientist
and Sheree Watson, USGS Ecologist
Learn About: