Introduction
It is believed that Native Americans inhabited the lands of what is now Yellowstone National Park for more than 11,000 years, until approximately 200 years ago, when European settlers began to drive many of them from their homelands. In 1872 Yellowstone was declared the world’s first national park as a way to preserve and protect the land for the “benefit and enjoyment of future generations.” (National Park Service) Yellowstone National Park covers a vast area in the Northwestern United States. Its landscape is very complex and ever changing thanks to the many geological forces that are found there. In fact, the unique geological features such as the geysers, hot springs, steam vents, among many others, are what lead to
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The third eruption happened about 640,000 years ago, and spewed 240 cubic miles of material. This third eruption created the third and largest of Yellowstone’s calderas, Yellowstone Caldera, which is 30 by 45 miles in size. The pyroclastic lava flows from this eruption formed the north wall of the caldera and are visible from the south-facing cliffs east of Madison. (Solcomhouse) This third eruption is said to have vaporized an entire mountain range. Smaller eruptions have also helped to shape Today’s Yellowstone, such as one that occurred 174,000 years ago and created what is now the “West Thumb” of Yellowstone Lake. (National Park Service) Many sources say that a catastrophic eruption, such as those that have formed the three calderas at Yellowstone, is unlikely during the next several hundred years, but if one such eruption did occur it would devastate much of the United States and would have the potential to alter the global climate.
Lava flows of rhyolite and basalt have flowed through parts of Yellowstone as recently as 70,000 years ago. These lava flows destroyed everything in their paths while moving slowly at a rate of a few hundred feet per day, flowing months, or sometimes even several years. They are thick and cover as much as 130 square miles. They have nearly filled the Yellowstone Caldera, and spilled beyond the caldera’s border. These lava flows are responsible for forming four of the nine named plateaus in
Yellowstone is the worlds first national park. It was origanally home to Native Americans who lived in the Yellowstone area for at least 11,000 years.The U.S. Army was first commissioned to oversee the park just after its establishment in late 1960. In 1917, administration of the park was transferred to the National Park Service. Yellowstone National Park spans an area of 3,468.4 square miles (8,983 km2), mostly comprising lakes, rivers canyons and mountain ranges. The national park is located primarily in the state of Wyoming, although it also extends into Montana and Idaho. It was established by the U.S. Congressand signed into law by President Ulysses S. Grant on March 1, 1872.
With no prolonged periods of inactivity the volcano has continuously built up on itself. The last major eruption took place in 1790 and killed many people and animals, but numbers are unknown4. Starting in 1983 there was a chain of several eruptions that started and have yet to stop pushing lava through a lava tube till it reaches the Pacific Ocean. Over a span of twenty year the flow has
Hawaii and Yellowstone are two of the most visited places each year because of their beautiful surroundings. What most people don't know about these places is that under the earth's crust molten lava is ripping each apart piece by piece. While Yellowstone is known as a super volcano, the big island of Hawaii is made up of five different volcanoes. They could both erupt at any minute. Those aren't the only similarities and differences of Yellowstone and Hawaii though.
Yellowstone National Park is one of the largest and oldest national parks in American history. Yellowstone was the first park to be protected by private investment on March 1, 1872, and the first to be put under the jurisdiction of the National Park Service in 1918, no doubt due to its unique and inspiring landscape and geothermal features. In fact, Yellowstone National Park is home to half of the world’s total hydrothermal features. These awesome attractions draw an incredible amount of visitors, an average of two to three million each year, to Yellowstone’s immense landscape. The park has a total size of 28,125 square miles, is found in three distinct states, and is considered to be one of the largest
The west coast of North America has been tectonically and volcanically active for billions of years. The Sierra Nevada Mountains in eastern California were born of volcanoes, and magma has been erupting in the Long Valley to the east of the mountains for over three million years (Bailey, et. al., 1989). However, the climactic eruption of the region occurred relatively recently in the region's geologic history. About 760,000 years ago, a huge explosion of magma warped the Eastern Sierra into the landscape that exists today. The eruption depleted a massive magma chamber below the earth's surface so that the ceiling of the chamber imploded, forming what is now known as
From what I had learned, Yellowstone National Park was the first national park ever to be established in the world. It had over 3,500 square miles of beautiful scenery and wildlife. The park itself was mostly located in Wyoming, however, less than 5% was located in Montana and Idaho. Yellowstone has been a park since March 1st, 1872, and since then there have been hundreds of thousands of tourists that go there each year to see the amazing things it has to offer. Old Faithful, one of Yellowstone's main attractions, is a
“The human history of the Yellowstone region goes back more than 11,000 years. From then until to the very recent past, many groups of Native Americans used the park as their homes, hunting grounds, and transportation routes. These traditional uses of Yellowstone lands continued until a little over 200 years ago when the first people of European descent found their way into the park. In 1872 a country that had not yet seen its first centennial, established Yellowstone as the first national park in the world. A new concept was born and with it a new way for people to preserve and protect
Today was an exciting day, my family and I went on a trip to the Yellowstone National Park! I was shocked at the history of the park. The park has been around for almost 11,000 years. We had to take a plane because it is located almost in all of Wyoming, but does go into Montana and Idaho, so I got to visit three states. It is one of the United States well known parks and visited by millions, including myself. The tour guide was very helpful in giving us information about the park. The earliest visit recorded was back in the 1800s. The people of Montana did not want development of the land that lead to President Ulysses S. Grant to preserve the land and make it a park. The people refused to have mining and logging to destroy their land.
On May 18th, 1980 one of the worst volcanic eruptions occurred in the United States. Triggered by an earthquake, Mount St. Helens erupted in Washington State at 8:39am. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, it was "the deadliest and most economically destructive event in the history of the United States." There were many effects from this terrible, natural event. People, animals, and the environment were all effected.
Yellowstone and Hawaii Comparison Hawaii and Yellowstone both attract millions of people per year. Tourists go to Hawaii for sunshine and beaches, and to Yellowstone to experience the hot springs and wonders of nature. Hawaii and Yellowstone may have differences, but what many people don't know is that they are alike in numerous ways. Both Hawaii and Yellowstone were created by hotspot. A difference is that the Islands of Hawaii were created over thousands of years because of a plate that is moving over a hotspot, and every once and awhile magma from the hotspot pushes up and creates a volcano.
After more then 40,000 years of activity, one would expect that people would no longer live in the surrounding shadow of Mt. St. Helens. But regardless, many towns and cities sit inside of a zone that would face destruction if a large eruption took place. In 1980 Mt. St. Helens erupted and caused the loss of many lives and the destruction of thousands of miles of land and property. Following the eruption, the volcano has stayed extremely active. In 2004 it erupted again, building a new lava dome and sending ash and steam into the atmosphere. Since then, seismologists and volcanologists have recently discovered pockets of magma rising and that another eruption may occur soon. Even though the people of Washington know that an eruption could cause widespread devastation they continue with their lives, doing little to prepare for the potential disaster.
This version of the inauguration process of Yellowstone National Park outlines the impact the installment of Yellowstone had on the lives and lifestyle of its inhabiting and neighboring Native American tribes. John Colter, the first non-Indian to explore Yellowstone, was guided by the Crow, whom he set up a trade alliance with, to observe the many wonders the land contained. On his return to the east, many thought his stories, of geysers shooting heated water hundreds of feet in the air, were only meager fables and entitled the area in the west he described as Colter’s Hell. It would be almost 60 years later, after Colter’s expedition, that another brave explorer would wander into the sacred grounds. In 1872, Congress established Yellowstone
In the year of 1872, Yellowstone National Park was considered the nation’s first national park. Several individuals had influenced that idea of a national park, but the most influential person was George Catlin. Catlin was known for his landscape paintings, until he brought into perspective how precious the open land was. Catlin believed this open wilderness protection. He stated, “What a beautiful and thrilling specimen for America to preserve and hold up to the view of her refined citizens and the world… A Nation’s Park, containing man and beast, in all the wild and freshness of their nature’s beauty!” Through the perspective and ideas of Catlin this news traveled and inspired others. Cornelius Hedges, a judge
This was the earliest stage of eruption and it produced 15 lava fountains that shot up 150 meters above the vent. These fountains were later concentrated into 5 fountains. March 30th recorded a new eruption phase. A very viscous and slowing moving Basalt lava flow began moving from the vents covering an area of roughly 1 square km before breaking off into two streams and spilling of the ridge. The next day, March 31st a new fissure opened in an area that was covered with snow. The 400 meter fissure produced several lava fountains, steam columns and explosions. On April 7th the original fissure stops its activity but four other vents continue to erupt large amounts of lava producing lava rivers that would flow into the nearby gorge. Also during this time earthquakes were recorded measuring 2.0 to 3.5 magnitudes, a possible signal of a new pattern of eruption. On April 14th there is another opening of a new fissure. This new fissure was located at the summit caldera and it was under 300 meters of ice. This produced two flash floods that discharged 1,500 to 2,000 cubic meters per second of melted
Ash plumes and steam rose into the bright blue sky as the underground earthquake shook the land and rattled windows all across the eighteen mile town. As the jet circled the island, in view of lovely beaches and emerald water, looming over this lush paradise was the screaming volcano. Volcanos erupt when the pressure inside of them becomes so great that the magma surges up and forces its way out. An exploding volcano can rip apart a mountain in just seconds, when the eruption is over, a landscape is changed forever. The united states is home to more volcanos than any other country except Indonesia, and Japan. The majority of these volcanoes are in Alaska. Until recently, there was no way to predict when a volcano would blow, although volcanoes give off many warning signs before they erupt. Including smaller earthquakes beneath the volcano, slight inflation, or swelling. The rising magma eventually causes the solid rock to break, sending earthquake signals. Most volcanoes give warning signs beginning weeks or months before they blow (Lindop).