:: Yellowstone National Park

If you are a history buff in addition to being outdoorsy, you'll be thrilled to know that Native Indians roamed this area over 11,000 years ago. That's how far back the history goes. The very things that boggle your mind now were probably a part of their humdrum daily routine. Though it really is hard to see the Old Faithful that way. Of the hundreds of hot springs and geysers in the area, the Old Faithful is a spectacular viewing experience. It erupts about every 91minutes, sending a huge spray of hot steam and water heavenwards while spectators watch with awed expressions.

While at the Upper Geyser Basin, you might be forgiven for thinking there's a steam engine approaching. The roar is actually from the Castle Geyser that roars ferociously for about 15 minutes before erupting about 80 feet into the air. The Riverside Geyser, as the name suggests erupts over the Firehole River and holds the spectacular display for about 20 long minutes.

The Midway Geyser Basin is where you'd find the Grand Prismatic Spring. Witness the world's third largest single hot spring in action as it blows you away with a splendid display of rainbow colours. In the Lower Geyser Basin you'll see the mud pots besides geysers and hot springs. The Fountain Paint Pots is a natural phenomenon of clay and steam pushing through to form bubbling mud pots that are incredibly fascinating.

There's more to Yellowstone National Park than hot water and steam. A huge variety of wild life left free to roam in their natural habitat will have you eating from their paws in no time. Cute, adorable bear cubs with their intimidating mommies are a sight to behold. While black bears are to be found near the wooded areas, the grizzlies seem to favour the open meadows. If you drive through the Yellowstone Bear World you get to see them in the safety of your car.

Bison, elk, and moose await you at the Park, especially around Lamar Valley, Mammoth Springs, Gibbon Meadows, and along the Firehole River. Gray wolves roam around in packs, hunting prey often larger than themselves. You'll be enchanted with the ways of the wild and their rules of existence. It might be hard to believe that the gray wolves and the bison were brought back from the brink of extinction.

Another awesome sight would be that of the trumpeter swans who swim around Seven Mile Bridge with their black beaks held high in self-esteem. You would too if you had an elegant body of pure white downy feathers set off to advantage by black feet and bill.

Some History of Yellowstone

Yellowstone National Park serves not only as one of the most popular national parks, but also as the oldest national park in the world. This popular tourist spot became famous for its unique natural phenomena such as its geysers (the most famous being Old Faithful) and hot springs as well as for its variety of wildlife. It’s not too difficult to spot bison, elk, grizzly bears, wolves, and a whole host of other kinds of wildlife at Yellowstone.

The park spans over 3,468 square miles that reach into Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho, and its name was derived from its location at the headwater of the Yellowstone River. Its unique features were formed after a massive volcanic eruption occurred over western North America long ago. In fact, the Yellowstone area has had three major volcanic eruptions over the past 2.2 million years and these are the largest known eruptions on Earth within that timeframe.

It is believed that humans first encountered Yellowstone around 11,000 years ago when Native Americans began hunting and fishing there. These Native Americans were of the Clovis culture and they ended up using obsidian that they found in the park to create cutting tools and arrowheads. In 1807, John Colter discovered the area and described it as a place of “fire and brimstone.” He had been a member of the Lewis and Clark Expedition but left to join a group of fur trappers, after joining some trappers, Colter passed through part of the Yellowstone area and found at least one geothermal area in a section of what is now the park. Many people dismissed his description of the place, thinking he was delirious from the war wounds he had incurred after fighting with the Crow and Blackfoot tribes.

Then, in 1856, a mountain man by the name of Jim Bridger told of spouting water, boiling springs, and a mountain of glass and yellow rock. Yet because Bridger was known as a “spinner of yarns,” many also dismissed his claims. His reports, however, did pique the interest of geologist F.V. Hayden, who planned to survey the area with surveyor W.F. Raynolds and Bridger as a guide. Due to heavy snows, though, they did not reach the Yellowstone area, and then the American Civil War prevented future explorations.

Finally, in 1869, the Folsom Expedition, consisting primarily of three privately funded explorers, surveyed the area. They followed the Yellowstone River to Yellowstone Lake and wrote down the details of their findings in a journal. This led to another expedition, the Washburn-Langford-Doane Expedition, and then another one by Hayden followed in 1871. He reported on his finds, and it was his reports, along with the Thomas Moran Yallowstone paintings, that helped convince the U.S. Congress to separate this area from the public. Thus, Yellowstone National Park was created.