Yellowstone National Park is home to more than 10,000 hydrothermal features including about half the world’s active geysers. Geysers are hot springs with constrictions in their plumbing, which cause them to periodically build up pressure which is released in eruptions.
Many of Yellowstone’s most popular hydrothermal areas include boardwalks for visitors to experience them on foot while remaining safe and preserving the fragile ecosystems below. One popular hydrothermal destination for visitors to explore is Excelsior Geyser Crater which is a dormant fountain-type geyser located in the Midway Geyser Basin. Excelsior Geyser Crater is 200 x 300 foot in size, and while no longer actively erupting it still constantly discharges more than 4,000 gallons of water per minute into the Firehole River. The water temperature at Excelsior Geyser Crater is around 199°F which is very close to the boiling point at that altitude.
The following video was taken from the boardwalk at Excelsior Geyser Crater and shows a tourist who had the good sense not to go after their hat after it was blown into the scorching waters. Instead they relied on park ranger who had a fishing pole handy to hook the hat from a safe distance.
If you plan on visiting Yellowstone National Park please be reminded to use extreme caution around its hydrothermal features (hot springs have injured or killed more people in Yellowstone than any other natural feature) and remember that if you lose something in geyser not to go after it, just find the park ranger with the best cast. Learn more about hydrothermal area safety at Yellowstone National Park below.
Yellowstone National Park Hydrothermal Areas Safety Guidelines:
- Stay on boardwalks and designated trails.
- Hydrothermal water can severely burn you.
- Never run, push, or shove.
- Supervise children at all times.
- Do not scratch hydrothermal mats.
You are responsible for your safety.
Think safety, act safely. Yellowstone is a dangerous place.