The variety of breathtaking sights! Lake Yellowstone is an inland sea.
The yellowstone river has created a canyon called "Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone".
The geology is a major part of the story. Yellowstone was once a gigantic volcano. An early eruption left a depression 34 miles by 44 miles across. The current area is supposed to be the largest geothermally active area any where in the world.
The picture below shows two vertically stripped areas of fractured lava from different eruptions. These are separated by layers of gravel and sedimentary rock in between from inland seas and glacier deposits.
The picture below is a forrest after steam began to cook the ground and the tree roots.
Everywhere these happy tourists looked there are more amazing vistas.
Seeing wildlife is one of the biggest thrills. There are signs everywhere saying to stay 100 ft from the dangerous animals. Today we saw bison
Elk grazing
Pronghorn antelope
Plus two bear cubs (viewed from our car this time), a family of mountain goats, and a cayote.
The rains have started wildflowers blooming
This is an immense mineral buildup at Mammoth Hot Springs
Addi loves the bison on the street....she laughed and laughed. It all looks so amazing!
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