Yellowstone National Park - Norris Geyser Basin (7-21-20)
Read MoreSolfatara
"This hillside is venting. Escaping sulfuric acid, gasses, and steam create a barren and very dangerous landscape called a 'solfatara'. Scalding mud and steam are often barely covered by crumbling, decomposing rock. Unlike other geothermal features, a solfatara's high concentration of sulfuric acid breaks down the surrounding rock making a confined 'plumbing system' unlikely so that the gasses and steam emerge less dramatically." -- Trail Interpretive Sign
Fumerole
"The hottest of Yellowstone's geothermal features are fumeroles (steam vents). Fumeroles in Norris Geyser Basin have measured up to 280'F. A plentiful water supply would help cool these features, however, steam vents are usually found on hillsides or higher ground, above the basin's water supply. They rapidly boil away what little water they contain, releasing steam and other gases forcefully from underground." -- Trail Interpretive Sign
Fumerole
"The hottest of Yellowstone's geothermal features are fumeroles (steam vents). Fumeroles in Norris Geyser Basin have measured up to 280'F. A plentiful water supply would help cool these features, however, steam vents are usually found on hillsides or higher ground, above the basin's water supply. They rapidly boil away what little water they contain, releasing steam and other gases forcefully from underground." -- Trail Interpretive Sign