index

information

Yellowstone gift shop

lodging

camping

maps

geysers

wildlife

Elk

waterfalls

geology

communities

tours

flyfishing

hiking

snowmobiling

snowcoach

wildflowers

Pea

skiing

dining

photography

conservation

contact

navbar

Midway Geyser Basin contains a small collection of mammoth-sized springs. Midway is part of the Lower Geyser Basin, but because of its isolated location between the main features of Lower and Upper geyser basins it became known as Midway. Rudyard Kipling, who visited Yellowstone in 1889, immortalized this basin by referring to it as "Hell's Half Acre." Even today it is still remembered by that name. Despite its small size Midway possesses two of the largest hot springs in the world. Grand Prismatic Spring, nearly 370 feet in diameter, sits upon a large mound surrounded by small step-like terraces. The other feature, Excelsior Geyser, erupted nearly 300 feet high before the 1900s. It is now a dormant geyser and is considered a hot spring, discharging more than 4050 gallons of boiling water per minute. Other colorful springs include Turquoise and Indigo springs, known for their pale and dark blue colors. Across the Firehole River from Excelsior and Grand Prismatic springs are a series of small isolated, pristine springs and mud pots. The Rabbit Creek drainage possesses some colorful and unusual features and most are unnamed. Caution should be exercised while exploring this vicinity since the ground is unstable and trails are not maintained.


EXCELSIOR GEYSER excelsior
Temperature 199°F Dimensions 276x328 feet. Excelsior was once the largest geyser In the world. However, the last known major eruptions occurred during the 1880s, when there were numerous eruptions up to 300 feet. The violent eruptions of the 1880s may have caused damage to the siliceous sinter lining, allowing gas leakage and the loss of thermal energy. No observed eruptions were known until 1985 when it erupted for two days. However, it only obtained a height of 20-80 feet. Since its eruptive activity in the 1880s, Excelsior is now a productive thermal spring, presently discharging 4050 gallons per minute. Numerous vents boil and churn the water within the crater, covering it in a dense layer of steam.


"The Essenstials for Planning your
Trip to Yellowstone Park"
wildlife dvd
yellowstone dvd

GRAND PRISMATIC SPRING grand prismatic
Temperature 147-188°F Dimensions 250x380 feet. Grand Prismatic is the largest hot spring in Yellowstone, and is considered to be the third largest in the world-New Zealand has the two largest springs. Grand Prismatic sits upon a wide, spreading mound where water flows evenly on all sides forming a series of small, stair-step terraces. The Hayden Expedition in 1871 named this spring because of its beautiful coloration, and artist Thomas Moran made water-color sketches depicting its rainbow-like colors. The sketches seemed exaggerations and geologist A.C. Peale returned in 1878 to verify the colors. The colors begin with a deep blue center followed by pale blue. Green algae forms beyond the shallow edge. Outside the scalloped rim a band of yellow fades into orange. Red then marks the outer border. Steam often shrouds the spring which reflects the brilliant colors. Grand Prismatic discharges an estimated 560 gallons per minute.


EXCELSIOR GEYSER excelsior
Temperature 199°F Dimensions 276x328 feet. Excelsior was once the largest geyser in the world. However, the last known major eruptions occurred during the 1880s, when there were numerous eruptions up to 300 feet. The violent eruptions of the 1880s may have caused damage to the siliceous sinter lining, allowing gas leakage and the loss of thermal energy. No observed eruptions were known until 1985 when it erupted for two days. However, it only obtained a height of 20-80 feet. Since its eruptive activity in the 1880s, Excelsior is now a productive thermal spring, presently discharging 4050 gallons per minute. Numerous vents boil and churn the water within the crater, covering it in a dense layer of steam.


TURQUOISE POOL turquoise pool
Temperature 142-160°F Dimensions 100x110 feet. The 1878 Hayden Expedition named this pool for its milky, white bottom and gem-like, blue-colored water. Suspended mineral particles in the water also add an opalescent iridescence. Turquoise has no apparent overflow channel, instead water drains through seepage. There is an underground connection with Excelsior Geyser. When Excelsior was active, Turquoise lowered nearly ten feet and took nearly a year to recover. In June and July purple fringed gentians are common and bloom on the barren ground surrounding this pool.

 


For more information on Yellowstone National Park and
the surrounding communities visit these helpful sites:

YellowstoneNationalPark.com
- YellowstoneLodging.com
YellowstoneFlyFishing.com
- YellowstoneMedia.com


Copyright @1999-2020 Yellowstone Media

 

 

logo
Yellowstone Park Logo
  • Lower Falls Yellowstone River -Yellowstone National Park 1 Lower Falls Yellowstone River -Yellowstone National Park
  • Old Faithful -Yellowstone National Park 1 Old Faithful -Yellowstone National Park
  • Grizzly and Cub -Yellowstone National Park 1 Grizzly and Cub -Yellowstone National Park
  • Snowcoach -Yellowstone National Park 1 Snowcoach -Yellowstone National Park
  • Alpha Female Wolf Hayden Valley -Yellowstone National Park 1 Alpha Female Wolf Hayden Valley -Yellowstone National Park
  • Daisy Geyser -Yellowstone National Park 1 Daisy Geyser -Yellowstone National Park
  • Bull Elk Fighting -Yellowstone National Park 1 Bull Elk Fighting -Yellowstone National Park
  • Old Faithful -Yellowstone National Park 1 Old Faithful -Yellowstone National Park
  • Badger Sow and Cubs -Yellowstone National Park 1 Badger Sow and Cubs -Yellowstone National Park
  • Morning Glory Pool -Yellowstone National Park 1 Morning Glory Pool -Yellowstone National Park
  • Bull Elk in Fog -Yellowstone National Park 1 Bull Elk in Fog -Yellowstone National Park
  • Angler Firehole River -Yellowstone National Park 1 Angler Firehole River -Yellowstone National Park
  • Bull Elk in Velvet -Yellowstone National Park 1 Bull Elk in Velvet -Yellowstone National Park
  • Castle Geyser -Yellowstone National Park 1 Castle Geyser -Yellowstone National Park
  • Upper Terraces -Yellowstone National Park 1 Upper Terraces -Yellowstone National Park
  • Grand Prismatic -Yellowstone National Park 1 Grand Prismatic -Yellowstone National Park