Yellowstone National Park's 2.2 million acres contains some of the earth's most diverse and dynamic natural ecosystems. Its forests, mountains, lakes and rivers are a refuge for hundreds of wildlife species, including Trumpeter Swans, herds of Elk, Pronghorn, and free-roaming Bison, Moose, Wolves, and Grizzly Bear. Other smaller species include the Uinta Ground Squirrel, Red Fox, Osprey and Mountain Bluebird. In addition Yellowstone holds 60% of the planet's geysers, hot springs and mud pots.
Two major river systems flow out of Yellowstone National Park - the Snake and the Yellowstone. Straddling the continental divide and taking in portions of Wyoming, Montana and Idaho, the park and its river systems nourish vast areas on both sides of the continent.
Yellowstone Lake, at more than 7000 above sea-level, is one of the largest high lakes in North America. It sits in the Yellowstone Caldera which is the largest active volcano on the continent. In the last two million years the volcano has erupted twice with tremendous force.
Explorer John Colter left the Lewis and Clark Expedition during their return trip in 1806 and headed back into the wilderness. It is generally believed that Colter was the first person of European descent to see Yellowstone Lake and the thermal wonders of the area. When he returned to Fort Raymond at the confluence of the Yellowstone and Missouri rivers, Colter reported sightings of geysers, mud pots and steaming pools of water. He was generally ridiculed and the area became known as Colter's Hell. Interest in the Yellowstone area eventually grew and a bill passed by the United States Congress established Yellowstone National Park. President Ulysses S. Grant signed the bill on March 1, 1872 establishing Yellowstone as the first national park in the world. The idea that very special places in the nation should be preserved, not for the privileged, but for everyone was unheard of at the time.
Yellowstone is the birthplace of our national park system, a remaining vestige of the wild west and a natural habitat for hundreds of plant and animal species. There is simply no other place like it on earth.
Two major river systems flow out of Yellowstone National Park - the Snake and the Yellowstone. Straddling the continental divide and taking in portions of Wyoming, Montana and Idaho, the park and its river systems nourish vast areas on both sides of the continent.
Yellowstone Lake, at more than 7000 above sea-level, is one of the largest high lakes in North America. It sits in the Yellowstone Caldera which is the largest active volcano on the continent. In the last two million years the volcano has erupted twice with tremendous force.
Explorer John Colter left the Lewis and Clark Expedition during their return trip in 1806 and headed back into the wilderness. It is generally believed that Colter was the first person of European descent to see Yellowstone Lake and the thermal wonders of the area. When he returned to Fort Raymond at the confluence of the Yellowstone and Missouri rivers, Colter reported sightings of geysers, mud pots and steaming pools of water. He was generally ridiculed and the area became known as Colter's Hell. Interest in the Yellowstone area eventually grew and a bill passed by the United States Congress established Yellowstone National Park. President Ulysses S. Grant signed the bill on March 1, 1872 establishing Yellowstone as the first national park in the world. The idea that very special places in the nation should be preserved, not for the privileged, but for everyone was unheard of at the time.
Yellowstone is the birthplace of our national park system, a remaining vestige of the wild west and a natural habitat for hundreds of plant and animal species. There is simply no other place like it on earth.
This gallery contains some of my favorite Yellowstone National Park images that are available as downloads and fine art prints. To view the gallery, click here or on the photo collage above. When you are in the gallery, click on a thumbnail to enlarge an image. To navigate the images click on the arrows. To see the captions click on the (i) symbol.