Yellowstone National Park is located in the United States and is considered the world’s first national park. 42. It was established by the US Congress through the Yellowstone National Park Conservation Act and signed into law by President Ulysses S. Grant on March 1, 1872. Yellowstone is located at the intersection of the American states of Wyoming, Montana and Idaho. Most of the park (%96) is located in Wyoming, while 3% extends into Montana and 1% into Idaho. The entire Yellowstone National Park covers 3,468.4 square miles (8,983 km²) of lakes, canyons, rivers and ranges. The vast park is named after the Yellowstone River, the largest river there. Although it is widely believed that the river’s name comes from the yellow rocks seen in Yellowstone’s Grand Canyon, the origin of the Native American name for the area is unclear. Although Native Americans have inhabited the area for at least 11,000 years, organized exploration of the region did not begin until the late 1860s, except for visits by mountain men. Today, this magnificent park full of natural beauty is one of the most curious and visited places in the world.
Of all the hot springs in the world, 62 percent are in the Yellowstone region, and about 10,000 of them are geysers. The most popular geyser is Old Faithful Geyser. It is one of the most important geysers in the world. It spews its very high temperature hot water and steam into the air approximately every 1 to 1.5 hours. The park is famous for its natural landscape with geysers, fumaroles, mud pots and hot springs. In addition to Old Faithful Geyser, it is home to Steamboat Geyser, the largest active hot water geyser in the world. The Grand Prismatic Spring, Yellowstone National Park’s largest hot spring and the third largest in the world, is located in the Mid-Aofben Basin.
The national park is largely located in the caldera of the Yellowstone volcano, which formed about 640,000 years to 70,000 years ago, above a magma chamber more than 8 kilometers deep. The highest point in the park is Eagle Peak at 3,462 meters. The most famous mountain on the plateau is Washburn Mountain at 3,122 meters. Part of the Yellowstone Plateau is Yellowstone Lake, the largest mountain lake in North America. Yellowstone Lake is one of the largest high-altitude lakes in North America and lies at the center of the Yellowstone Caldera, the largest super volcano on the continent. The park’s highest falls are the 94-meter Lower Falls. The Upper Falls flow in the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone.
In addition to its geothermal resources, the park is known for some of its wildlife, including bison, grizzly bears and wolves. Yellowstone Park is the largest and most famous megafauna site in the contiguous United States. It is home to hundreds of species of mammals, birds, fish and reptiles. The Yellowstone Park bison herd is the oldest and largest herd of ringed bison in the United States. Unfortunately, most wildlife accidents occur with bison. This is because bison are wild animals and it is good to keep a safe distance. black bears, which became accustomed to tourists in the 1970s and started eating garbage and human food, are now successfully kept away from campsites and picnic areas thanks to educational brochures and the animal feeding ban.
Forests cover a fraction of the park’s surface area. Many plant species are found throughout the park, some of which are found only in the national park. Hot springs have affected the park’s vegetation, so direct contact with warm water containing silicates is destructive for many plants. Killing of all animals in the park is prohibited. No damage should be done to trees, minerals and natural rarities. To this day, one of the National Park Service’s missions is to strike a balance between visitor satisfaction and nature conservation.
Yellowstone offers many activities, including hiking, camping, boating and fishing. Paved roads provide close and safe access to the main geothermal areas, some lakes and waterfalls. Visitors can reach the park via guided tours, which often use snowmobiles or snowmobiles during the winter months. The daily number of motorized snowmobiles in the park is limited and it is forbidden to use a vehicle without a recognized guide. Hikers have about 2,000 kilometers of marked hiking trails spread throughout the park. There are also many campsites in the park. The towns are connected by the Grand Loop Road highway network in the shape of a large figure eight. Depending on the season and snow conditions, some streets and towns in the park are closed for safety reasons. Sudden weather changes can be expected in the park all year round. In summer, daytime temperatures of 25°C-30°C are common in low-lying areas. Nights are cool even in summer. In the mountains, temperatures can drop below freezing. Winter daytime temperatures usually range between -20 °C and -5 °C.
Throughout the park, you can observe wildlife in a pristine ecosystem, explore geothermal areas that contain nearly half of the world’s active geysers, and see geological wonders like the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone River. To enjoy all these great moments, you must observe all the recommended safety precautions without exception. It is useful to keep your distance to avoid burns from hot water. Do not approach or encircle bears or wolves below 100 yards (91 m) and other wildlife below 25 yards (23 m). Always keep a safe distance. Unfortunately, many visitors who do not follow these rules are injured by wildlife.
Yellowstone has multiple accommodation options (nine lodges (hotel and cabin style) with more than 2,000 rooms) catering to different needs. All are open from late spring to fall. Old Faithful Snow Lodge is open during the winter months. Reservations are recommended to be made early, as many of the park’s campgrounds are booked well in advance and fill up.
Although an entrance pass is required to enter Yellowstone National Park, vehicle reservations are not required. If you want to save time, you can purchase an entrance pass before you arrive. However, it is also possible to purchase passes at any entrance station upon arrival. When Yellowstone National Park is seasonally open, park entrances are not closed at night. Visitors can therefore enter and exit the park 24/7. Road conditions can change rapidly due to weather conditions and certain restrictions may apply. You should therefore check the road conditions before you get there. For a comfortable and safe trip, it is recommended to participate in activities in groups. Be sure to visit the park’s official website before your visit to make sure you have the necessary documents and equipment with you!
Here! Some of the amazing activities waiting for you in Yellowstone National Park:
- Enjoy nature’s unique hydrothermal and geological features
- Visiting the Albright Visitor Center, Canyon Visitor Education Center, Fish Bridge Visitor Center, Grant Visitor Center and Madison Information Station
- Making nature walk
- Horse riding
- Skiing
- Driving a snowmobile or snowmobile
- Camping and sleeping under the stars
- Fishing (Fishing is allowed throughout the park but without fishing net)
- Watching the fish from the Fisherman’s Bridge
- Going for a boat ride
- Cycling tour
- Participating in guided tours
- Picnicking (Yellowstone offers a number of picnic areas throughout the park)
- Walk to the Natural Bridge
- Photography
- Watching wildlife in Hayden Valley
- Viewing wildlife in Hayden and Pelican Valleys
- Visiting Yellowstone Lake
- Enjoying the spectacular view of the Yellowstone River
- A ride through the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone River
- Discovery of Mammoth Hot Springs Terraces
- Enjoying the extraordinarily beautiful turquoise colors of the Grand Prismatic Spring
- Visit to historic Fort Yellowstone
- Watching Old Faithful Geyser
- Watching wildlife in the Lamar Valley
- Observing the fall of the tower at the Tower at Roosevelt
- Exploring the West Thumb Geyser Basin
- Hiking in the Norris Geyser Basin