Yellowstone National Park is the largest US nature reserve. Located in Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho, it spans an area of 3,468.4 square miles (8,983 km2), bigger than Rhode Island or Delaware.
About 96 percent of the park is in Wyoming. Three percent is in Montana and one percent in Idaho.
The park comprises canyons, lakes, rivers, and mountain ranges. It is known for its wildlife and its many geothermal features.
Yellowstone, widely held to be the first national park in the world, was signed into law by President Ulysses S. Grant on March 1, 1872.
The name was taken from the Yellowstone River, which flows through the park.
Although Yellowstone was not officially termed a "national park" in its establishing law, it was always termed such in practice and is widely held to be the first and oldest national park in the world.
The US Army ran Yellowstone Park until 1917 when the National Park Service was created.
Yellowstone Lake is one of the largest high-altitude lakes in North America and is centered over the Yellowstone Caldera, the largest supervolcano on the continent. The caldera is considered an active volcano. It has erupted with tremendous force several times in the last two million years, but experts say there is no immediate danger of eruption. Half of the world's geothermal features are in Yellowstone, fueled by this ongoing volcanism.
The park is the center of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, which is the largest remaining nearly intact ecosystem in the Earth's northern temperate zone. It includes many types of ecosystems, but the biggest is the subalpine forest.
The vast forests and grasslands include unique species of plants. It is the largest and most famous megafauna location in the continental United States.
Hundreds of species of mammals, birds, fish and reptiles have been documented in the park, including several that are either endangered or threatened.
The Yellowstone Park bison herd is the oldest and largest public bison herd in the United States. It is descended from a remnant population of 23 individual bison that survived a mass slaughter in the 19th century by hiding out in the Pelican Valley of Yellowstone Park.
About 600 grizzly bears live in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, with more than half living within Yellowstone.
There are over 30,000 elk—the largest number of any large mammal species in Yellowstone.
Yellowstone has more than 3,000 geysers and hot springs, including Old Faithful Geyser, one of the most popular features in the park. Old Faithful erupts approximately every 90 minutes.
It's possible for a human to dissolve in Yellowstone's hot springs. On June 7, 2016, Colin Scott slipped and tumbled into the acidic boiling waters of the Norris Geyser while looking for a hot spot to soak in. Scott had illegally ventured off the boardwalk and within 24hrs he dissolved.
There was a record of 4,257,177 recreational visitors to Yellowstone in 2016.
July is the busiest month for tourism at Yellowstone National Park.
At peak summer levels, 3,700 employees work for Yellowstone National Park concessionaires.
Hollywood legend Gary Cooper worked as a Yellowstone Park guide for several seasons before becoming an actor.
About 96 percent of the park is in Wyoming. Three percent is in Montana and one percent in Idaho.
The park comprises canyons, lakes, rivers, and mountain ranges. It is known for its wildlife and its many geothermal features.
Yellowstone, widely held to be the first national park in the world, was signed into law by President Ulysses S. Grant on March 1, 1872.
The name was taken from the Yellowstone River, which flows through the park.
Although Yellowstone was not officially termed a "national park" in its establishing law, it was always termed such in practice and is widely held to be the first and oldest national park in the world.
The US Army ran Yellowstone Park until 1917 when the National Park Service was created.
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| Detailed pictorial map from 1904 |
Yellowstone Lake is one of the largest high-altitude lakes in North America and is centered over the Yellowstone Caldera, the largest supervolcano on the continent. The caldera is considered an active volcano. It has erupted with tremendous force several times in the last two million years, but experts say there is no immediate danger of eruption. Half of the world's geothermal features are in Yellowstone, fueled by this ongoing volcanism.
The park is the center of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, which is the largest remaining nearly intact ecosystem in the Earth's northern temperate zone. It includes many types of ecosystems, but the biggest is the subalpine forest.
The vast forests and grasslands include unique species of plants. It is the largest and most famous megafauna location in the continental United States.
Hundreds of species of mammals, birds, fish and reptiles have been documented in the park, including several that are either endangered or threatened.
The Yellowstone Park bison herd is the oldest and largest public bison herd in the United States. It is descended from a remnant population of 23 individual bison that survived a mass slaughter in the 19th century by hiding out in the Pelican Valley of Yellowstone Park.
About 600 grizzly bears live in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, with more than half living within Yellowstone.
There are over 30,000 elk—the largest number of any large mammal species in Yellowstone.
Yellowstone has more than 3,000 geysers and hot springs, including Old Faithful Geyser, one of the most popular features in the park. Old Faithful erupts approximately every 90 minutes.
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| Old Faithful. By Grahampurse |
It's possible for a human to dissolve in Yellowstone's hot springs. On June 7, 2016, Colin Scott slipped and tumbled into the acidic boiling waters of the Norris Geyser while looking for a hot spot to soak in. Scott had illegally ventured off the boardwalk and within 24hrs he dissolved.
There was a record of 4,257,177 recreational visitors to Yellowstone in 2016.
July is the busiest month for tourism at Yellowstone National Park.
At peak summer levels, 3,700 employees work for Yellowstone National Park concessionaires.
Hollywood legend Gary Cooper worked as a Yellowstone Park guide for several seasons before becoming an actor.
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