Early explorers marveled at the other-worldly features and abundant wildlife found in the Yellowstone region. The tall tales they told of geysers, waterfalls, boiling mud, grizzly bears, and more seemed larger than life. In fact, what they saw and knew of Yellowstone just scratched the surface of its sheer magnitude and wealth or wonders. We pulled together just 10 larger than life stats and facts that help define why Yellowstone National Park is a world treasure worthy of our admiration and protection.

1. Yellowstone encompasses 3,472 square miles (2,221,766 acres) which makes it larger than Rhode Island and Delaware combined.

Aerial view of the Upper Geyser Basin. Old Faithful can be seen in the top right corner of the photo.

 

2. There are more than 10,000 hydrothermal features in Yellowstone. The five types of thermal features are geysers, hot springs, mud pots, travertine terraces, and fumaroles.

Doublet Pool on a summer day in the Yellowstone’s Upper Geyser Basin.

 

3. Yellowstone is home to more than 500 active geysers (more than half the world’s geysers).

Grand Geyser erupting in Yellowstone’s Upper Geyser Basin. Grand Geyser is one of only a handful of geysers that are predictable. Check out Yellowstone’s Old Faithful Livestream Webcam for a live look at Old Faithful and other geysers and hot springs in the Upper Geyser Basin.

 

4. Yellowstone Lake has 131.7 sq. miles of surface area and 141 miles of shoreline. It is the largest high elevation lake in North America.

View from Mary Bay. Yellowstone Lake freezes each winter and begins to thaw in late May or early June. A thin layer of ice can be seen in this image towards the edge of the horizon.

 

5. Yellowstone is home to the largest concentration of mammals in the lower 48 states (67 species).

Grizzly sow and cubs seen near Yellowstone Lake in late May. With your help, Yellowstone Forever is proud to support a number Wildlife Conservation and Research projects in the park.

 

6. Nearly 300 species of birds have been documented in Yellowstone. Approximately 150 species nest in the park.

Osprey perched with a brown trout caught in the Gibbon River. Yellowstone Forever supports a number of long-term studies taking place through Yellowstone’s Bird Program, including research and monitoring of raptors, songbirds, and trumpeter swans.

 

7. There are more than 2,000 known archaeological sites within the park. However, less than 3% of the park has been inventoried.

A Heritage and Research Center technician shows off an arrowhead excavated in the park.

 

8. About 290 waterfalls can be found throughout Yellowstone’s 2.2 million acres.

At 308 feet, the Lower Falls of the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone is the tallest waterfall in the park.

 

9. Yellowstone’s Heritage and Research Center houses over 6 million museum items, 20,000 books, maps, and periodicals in its library collection, 17,000 specimens in the herbarium, cares for over 25 historic vehicles, and is an affiliate of the U.S. National Archives & Records Administration.

With donor support, Yellowstone Forever has long funded various aspects of Yellowstone’s Heritage and Research Center. The HRC continues to need financial support to manage and curate its growing collections.

 

10. There are approximately 1,000 miles of hiking trails in Yellowstone.

Hiker on Avalanche Peak on the east side of Yellowstone Lake. Avalanche Peak is just one of our Staff Members’ Favorite Hikes. Yellowstone Forever helps support the restoration of trails and boardwalks throughout the park.

Yellowstone Trivia

Where is a great place to find 1000 facts and figures about Yellowstone National Park?  In Yellowstone Trivia, this fun-filled and fact-filled trivia extravaganza will keep you laughing, keep you learning, keep you guessing and keep you laughing! Shop online and support the park you know and love. Visit our online Park Store for this and other Yellowstone-related books, collectibles, clothing, souvenirs, and more! Every purchase supports important projects and programs in Yellowstone.

Read on for more Yellowstone Facts.

Photos of grizzly bear and aerial view of Upper Geyser Basin courtesy of NPS/Jim Peaco; All others by YF/Matt Ludin