Daily Archives: July 31, 2015

July 31, 2015 Norris, Yellowstone N.P.

Our last day in the park was spent at Norris which is named after Philetus Norris, the second superintendent of Yellowstone National Park from 1877-1882.  He explored and recorded the area’s hydro-thermal features in detail which added greatly to the geographic knowledge of the park.

This entire geyser basin is the oldest, hottest and most dynamic geyser basin in the park and part of one of the world’s largest active volcanoes.  Many of the hot springs and fumeroles here have temperatures above 200 degrees.  Norris is near the intersection of three major faults which creates this dynamic geyser basin.  Every year new hot springs and geysers appear while others become dormant.IMG_0732
IMG_0737IMG_0766Steamboat Geyser located in Norris is the world’s tallest active geyser. Steamboat Geyser’s eruptions are very unpredictable with the last eruption occurring in September, 2014.  When it does erupt it can shoot water up to 300 feet in the air.  On the day we were there it was spewing plenty of steam with an occasional spurt of water.IMG_0762IMG_0779IMG_0784

We enjoyed walking on the boardwalks seeing the various geysers and hot springs.IMG_0735IMG_0739

The Ranger told us the only predictable geyser here was Vixen Geyser.  It erupts every twenty minutes or so and we only had to wait a few minutes before it put on quite a show for us.  Bill captured some before and after eruption pictures.IMG_0745IMG_0747IMG_0753IMG_0755

Also located in Norris is the Museum of the National Park Ranger.  We stopped by to visit this former Army outpost built in 1908.

While we are talking about geysers, mud pots, fumeroles and hot springs we will include a few pictures taken of Mud Volcano and Dragon’s Mouth we saw while exploring the Fishing Bridge area.IMG_0635IMG_0637IMG_0642IMG_0641

Our time in Yellowstone went by much too quickly.  We look forward to returning again someday.IMG_0629IMG_0626IMG_20150730_170753