Yellowstone: geysers, mud pools and bison!

Geysers, mud pools and hot springs are found all over the southern loop within Yellowstone. That area is the remains of the caldera for the still active volcano that formed this area.

Old Faithful is probably the best known but others are beautiful and fascinating.

 

This is a video of Old Faithful. 

Sometimes the geysers and hot springs form tall formations around the opening.

 Hot pools may containing boiling hot water. Bacteria and algae live in or near the pools. The colors change with different kinds of microorganisms, depending on their ability to withstand and live in different temperatures. These organisms that live in the hot pools are called extremophiles.

For more information related to the extremophiles go to this link.

 Mud pot in Yellowstone.

Dead lodgepole pines with white bobby socks.

We saw bison in Yellowstone also. One was walking beside the road in an area where they were doing road construction. We had to keep moving, so this is the shop I got. He was only about 4 feet from the car, peacefully munching on grass beside the road and not paying much attention to the cars. Unfortunately he ducked his head and we kept rolling so I didn't get all of him!

Another one was near a stream as we walked on the trail near Old Faithful.

Can't get this close to a real moose and haven't seen one. There has been a lot of rain this summer so some of the animals are staying higher up in the mountains. I will have to add him to the list of animals I want to knit when I get home:
prairie dog, magpie and now moose!


Mr. Moose and I say "good-bye" for now!