Yellowstone National Park Facts

Established as the world’s first national park in 1872 and spanning over 2.2 million acres, there is an endless supply of Yellowstone-related information to understand and unravel. A great place to start is with just the facts. From a basic understanding of the park’s geologic features and wildlife, to its equally vast cultural and historical resources, this Yellowstone Facts page will give you an overview of all that encompasses Yellowstone National Park.

History

Yellowstone National Park was established on March 1, 1872.
Yellowstone is the world’s first national park.

Geography

No area figures have been scientifically verified. Efforts to confirm the park’s total area continue.

3,472 square miles (8,991 km2)
2,221,766 acres or 899,116 hectares
63 air miles north to south (102 km)
54 air miles east to west (87 km)
96% in Wyoming, 3% in Montana, 1% in Idaho
Highest Point: 11,358 feet (3,462 m; Eagle Peak)
Lowest Point: 5,282 feet (1,610 m; Reese Creek)
Larger than Rhode Island and Delaware combined
About 5% covered by water; 15% by grassland; and 80% by forests

Precipitation

Annual precipitation ranges from 10 inches (26 cm) at the north boundary to 80 inches (205 cm) in the southwest corner. Learn more about weather in Yellowstone.

Temperature

Record High: 99ºF (37ºC), 2002 (Mammoth Hot Springs)
Record Low: -66ºF (-54ºC), February 9, 1933 (West Entrance, Riverside Station)
Average daily at Mammoth Hot Springs: January: 9ºF (-13ºC); July: 80ºF (27ºC)
Learn more about weather in Yellowstone.

Yellowstone Lake

Elevation: 7,733 feet above sea level
131.7 square miles of surface area (341.1 km2)
141 miles of shoreline (227 km)
20 miles north to south (32 km)
14 miles east to west (22 km)
Average depth: 138 feet (42 m)
Maximum depth: 430 feet (131 m)
Learn more about Yellowstone Lake

Geology

The park sits on top of an active volcano.
One of the world’s largest calderas at 45 x 30 miles (72 x 48 km)
1,000–3,000 earthquakes annually
More than 10,000 hydrothermal features
More than 500 active geysers (more than half the world’s geysers)
About 290 waterfalls
Tallest waterfall near a road: Lower Falls of the Yellowstone River at 308 feet (94 m)

Wildlife

67 species of mammals, including seven species of native ungulates and two species of bear
285 species of birds (150 nesting)
16 species of fish (five nonnative)
More than seven aquatic invasive species (three having significant detrimental effect)
Five species of amphibians
Six species of reptiles
Two threatened species: Canada lynx, grizzly bears

Vegetation

Nine species of conifers (more than 80% of forest is lodgepole pine)
1,000+ species of native flowering species (3 endemic)
225 species of invasive plants
186 species of lichens

Cultural Resources

26 associated Native American tribes
More than 1,800 known archeological sites
More than 300 ethnographic resources (animals, plants, sites)
25 sites, landmarks, and districts on the National Register of Historic Places; many more eligible for listing
One National Historic Trail (Nez Perce)
More than 900 historic buildings
More than 720,000 museum items, including 30 historic vehicles
Millions of archived documents
More than 20,000 books (many rare), manuscripts, periodicals