Yellowstone National Park was America's First National Park. Created on March 1, 1872 by an act of Congress and signed into law by President Ulysses S. Grant, Yellowstone’s creation protected the beautiful, unique landscape for generations to come and set the stage for all National Parks that would follow afterwards.
Yellowstone’s landscape encompasses three states: Montana, Wyoming, and Idaho. Yellowstone is situated atop a Supervolcano, which gives way to its famous geysers, thermal springs and thermal pools. Over half the world’s geysers are in Yellowstone, and the park is home to over 500 geysers. Old Faithful, located in Upper Geyser Basin, is the most famous geyser in the park erupting approximately every 44 minutes. Grand Geyser, also in Upper Geyser Basin, is the tallest predictable geyser in the world.
Grand Prismatic Spring in Midway Geyser Basin is the 3rd largest hot spring in the world at 300 feet in diameter, and it’s widely considered the most beautiful hot spring in the world. It features deep blue water in the center which cools as the water moved out towards the edges, creating bands of color like a rainbow. Morning Glory Pool in Upper Geyser Basin is another hot spring famous for its water color and the color band around it. Although the turquoise center section is smaller than it used to be due to tourists throwing stuff which clogged the internal plumbing of the geyser, it’s still a wonder to see.
Home to American bison (sometimes incorrectly referred to as buffalo), grizzly bears, elk, wolves and a vast array of other wildlife, Yellowstone has long been known as the American Serengeti due its abundance of wildlife. Although the wildlife viewing opportunities here are fantastic, one of my favorite things about Yellowstone has always been its wide variety of landscapes to look at. Yellowstone is much more than, wildlife and thermal features like geysers and hot springs. It’s a landscape filled with countless waterfalls, deep canyons such as the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, high mountain peaks, forests, raging rivers (including the Yellowstone River, Firehole River, and Madison River) and lush meadows. Yellowstone Lake is one of the largest high elevation lakes in North America.
I’ve always found this place incredibly peaceful. It’s a throwback to a bygone era, and often feels like the last unspoiled place. From famous locations such as Upper Yellowstone Falls and Lower Yellowstone Falls to lesser known ones such as Pelican Valley and Pleasant Valley, this is a place where you can witness the wonders of nature in all their grandeur. Time always seems to stand still here, even as the thermal features change.
Mammoth Hot Springs is famous for its travertine formations, and as hot springs such as Carney Spring go dormant, new ones will often form and spring to life. Aphrodite Terrace is one where I’ve seen colors spring to life over a period of years, a contrast to the colors of Carney Spring which faded as it went dormant in 2020.
I’ve spent close to 2 decades visiting Yellowstone. My wife grew up 90 minutes from Yellowstone, so it’s a place we have frequently returned to. We’ve visited this wondrous place often over the decades, sometimes staying nearby for months at a time while we visit. There’s such a wide variety of beauty to be found here. From the peaceful meadows like Lamar Valley and Hayden Valley filled with wildlife to the raging waterfalls along the Yellowstone River, Yellowstone National Park is a place filled with wonder and awe. I hope everyone viewing my Yellowstone Fine Art Photography gallery experiences the same feelings of wonder and awe that I’ve always experienced here.
