Geysers of Yellowstone and Beyond

The geysers of Yellowstone are one of the biggest (if not the biggest) reasons why millions of people come to Yellowstone National Park every year. For generations these geysers have captured the hearts and imaginations of people from all around the world. In fact, one of the driving forces in establishing Yellowstone as the first national park in 1872 was the uniqueness and abundance of the geysers found within. The world had known about geysers before Yellowstone, but never to the degree and amount that we see even today.

In all, there are about 10,000 thermal features (geysers, hot springs, mud pots, travertine terraces, and fumaroles) within the borders of the park. And of that 10,000 about 500 of them are geysers, making Yellowstone the largest concentration of geysers on the planet.

There are indeed other places on earth where geysers can be found. Some of the more notable locations being Iceland (home to Geysir, the namesake of all geysers), New Zealand, presenting the tallest geyser ever observed (1900-1904) and was recorded at 1500 feet! And lastly, Dolina Geizerov (Valley of Geysers) in Northeastern Russia on the Kamchatka Peninsula, home to the second largest concentration of geysers on the planet.

But, why are there geysers in those locations as well as Yellowstone? What makes these specific areas so special? And what geological ingredients are needed for geysers to form?

The answer is, unfortunately, not simple, but can be simplistically interpreted allowing us all a chance to understand and learn from these features.

There are 3 main things needed for a geyser to form:

1: A special underground plumbing system
2: A large, consistent heat source
3: A substantial supply of water

Now, all of these ingredients can be found all over the earth. But, having the right amount of all three things (in copious amounts) is quite rare. The question that is presented now: How? How do all 3 of these things connect to make a geyser?

Let’s talk about the first ingredient: A special underground plumbing system.

When we say “plumbing system” we are talking about the underground waterways and chambers that make the underside of a geyser. This is where the hot, boiling water that causes a geyser to erupt can be found. This system is unique in that it provides the conditions necessary for water to reach boiling point, encouraging pressure to build and build. But a channel with boiling water is not all that is needed for an eruption. Another feature of these systems is a characteristic called the “constriction”, which allows for the mass buildup of pressure within the plumbing system so that the water may reach its boiling point, eventually exploding into a geyser eruption! This eruption allows for said pressure to be released when the water in those channels gets to the boiling point.

Fun Fact! Old Faithful’s constriction is only about 4 and 1/8th inches wide!

The second ingredient: Heat

Now, the reason why we even have thermal features in the first place is because Yellowstone is home to a very large heat source. A type of volcano, in fact, called a Caldera. This caldera is very close to the earth’s surface (anywhere between 3-5 miles, depending on which part of the park you find yourself) and continually heats the water within geysers and hot springs. This then allows for the water in those plumbing systems to reach boiling point, triggering an eruption to occur.

The last ingredient: Water

Water is one of the most abundant elements on earth and is an integral part of life as we know it. Here in Yellowstone, there is a large collection of water circulating, between the surface of the park and the super-heated rock before the heat source, the magma chambers of the caldera. The water is supplied predominantly by the snow-melt and rain received across the landscape. While the park may experience this kind of precipitation every year, it can take quite a bit of time to appear in the geysers and hot springs. Each section of the park is different and so is each geyser, meaning that water can take anywhere from a few minutes to many centuries before making its way into the plumbing systems of these thermal features.

A Special Plumbing System, a Heat Source, and Water. A simple yet useful way to start understanding what it takes to create the geothermal characters that we have all come to know and love here in Yellowstone. There are those other places on Earth where one can find geysers, but that does not make them any less beautiful or rare. Although these three ingredients may, in themselves, be common, finding them in just the right amounts with just the right conditions to create such geological wonders is, indeed, rare.

Not only must the perfect collection of natural elements come together for geysers and other geothermals to exist, but the sense of appreciation and respect for them is just as key to their continued existence. If not for the efforts of those before us, to understand, protect, and educate about these exemplary, awe-inspiring geologic curiosities, we may not have had the chance to properly preserve them so that they may be experienced and enjoyed by visitors from all walks of life today, and every day.

by David Valdivia, Yellowstone Forever Institute 

Feature image: Grand Geyser in the Upper Geyser Basin