Castle Geyser Yellowstone Np 1928

by NPS Photo Asahel Curtis

Title

Castle Geyser Yellowstone Np 1928

Artist

NPS Photo Asahel Curtis

Medium

Photograph - Photograph

Description

Postcard of Castle Geyser photographed by Asahel Curtis, 1928. Castle Geyser is a cone geyser in the Upper Geyser Basin. It is noted for the particularly large geyserite sinter deposits, which form its cone. These deposits have been likened in appearance to a castle. When the geyser was given this name in 1870, the top edges of the structure resembled the typical profile associated with the modern concept of a castle, having the appearance of a large keep, multiple turrets, and especially because of the crenellation along the top edges of what resembled its towers. Over time the cone's shape changes because of the layers of mineral deposited in successive eruptions. Yellowstone National Park is a national park located primarily in the state of Wyoming, although it also extends into Montana and Idaho. It was established by the U.S. Congress and signed into law by President Ulysses S. Grant on March 1, 1872. Yellowstone, widely held to be the first national park in the world, is known for its wildlife and its many geothermal features. The park spans an area of 3,468.4 square miles. The Yellowstone Caldera is the largest supervolcano on the continent. Half of the world's geothermal features are in Yellowstone, fueled by this ongoing volcanism. Lava flows and rocks from volcanic eruptions cover most of the land area of Yellowstone. The park is the centerpiece of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, the largest remaining nearly-intact ecosystem in the Earth's northern temperate zone. Hundreds of species of mammals, birds, fish and reptiles have been documented, including several that are either endangered or threatened. The vast forests and grasslands also include unique species of plants. Yellowstone Park is the largest and most famous megafauna location in the Continental United States.

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July 29th, 2014

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