Today I am going to discover or rediscover the magic of the world’s first national park, Yellowstone. Yellowstone National Park, established by the U.S. Congress as a national park on March 1, 1872, is located primarily in the U.S. state of Wyoming, though it also extends into Montana and Idaho. The park was the first of its kind, and is known for its wildlife and its many geothermal features, especially Old Faithful Geyser, one of the most popular features in the park. It has many types of ecosystems, but the subalpine forest is dominant.

(1870) Portrait of Nathaniel P. Langford, the first superintendent of the park

Yellowstone National Park spans an area of 3,468 square miles (8,980 km2), comprising lakes, canyons, rivers and mountain ranges. Yellowstone Lake is one of the largest high-altitude lakes in North America and is centered over the Yellowstone Caldera, the largest supervolcano on the continent. The caldera is considered an active volcano; it has erupted with tremendous force several times in the last two million years. Half of the world’s geothermal features are in Yellowstone, fueled by this ongoing volcanism. Lava flows and rocks from volcanic eruptions cover most of the land area of Yellowstone. The park is the centerpiece of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, the largest remaining, nearly intact ecosystem in the Earth’s northern temperate zone.

Description of the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone

Yellowstone is recognized as an awesome natural monument set aside “for the benefit and enjoyment of the people” for generations to come. During the late 1800’s when most of the west was undeveloped and wild, the wondrous geysers and hot springs along with the bountiful wildlife caused early explorers to realize that they were standing on “sacred” ground.

Today, 135 years after its designation, Yellowstone continues to provide inspiration for the people of the world and is a reflection of American values and ideals.

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