Yellowstone is the only place in the United States where bison (Bison bison) have lived continuously since prehistoric times. Yellowstone bison are exceptional because they comprise the nation’s largest bison population on public land and are among the few bison herds that have not been hybridized through interbreeding with cattle.
Bison are the largest land-dwelling mammal in North America. Males (2,000 lbs./900 kg) are larger than females (1,100 lbs./500 kg) and both are generally dark chocolate-brown in color, with long hair on their forelegs, head, and shoulders, but short, dense hair (1 in/3 cm) on their flanks and hindquarters.
Tags: Fall YNP Yellowstone Yellowstone National Park bison landscape
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The elk or wapiti is one of the largest species within the deer family, and one of the largest terrestrial mammals in North America and Northeast Asia. Elk are related to deer but are much larger than most of their relatives. A bull (male) elk’s antlers may reach 4 feet above its head, so that the animal towers 9 feet tall.
Only male elk have antlers
Bulls shed and grow a new set of antlers every year
New antlers are covered in fuzzy skin called velvet
Antlers harden by late summer and the velvet peels away
By September, antlers are solid bone
A set of antlers on a mature bull can weigh up to 40 pounds
Tags: Fall YNP Yellowstone Yellowstone National Park bull elk elk landscape
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Midway Geyser Basin consisting of two large pools, Midway’s main attraction is undoubtedly Grand Prismatic Spring. But Excelsior Geyser (or rather, its crater) is the first feature you pass on the boardwalk. A steaming body of teal water running off into the Firehole River, Excelsior has been like this for most of its recorded history. For a time though, it was the largest geyser in the world.
Excelsior doesn’t erupt regularly these days, but that doesn’t diminish its value. Indeed, in terms of thermal features, Excelsior Geyser is no slouch. It produces approximately 4500 gallons of runoff per minute, which comes out to 6 million gallons a day. To put this in perspective, an Olympic size swimming pool contains 660,430 gallons; that means Excelsior Geyser discharges a little over nine Olympic swimming pools worth of water on a daily basis.
Tags: Excelsior Geyser YNP Yellowstone Yellowstone National Park
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Midway Geyser Basin consisting of two large pools, Midway’s main attraction is undoubtedly Grand Prismatic Spring. But Excelsior Geyser (or rather, its crater) is the first feature you pass on the boardwalk. A steaming body of teal water running off into the Firehole River, Excelsior has been like this for most of its recorded history. For a time though, it was the largest geyser in the world.
Excelsior doesn’t erupt regularly these days, but that doesn’t diminish its value. Indeed, in terms of thermal features, Excelsior Geyser is no slouch. It produces approximately 4500 gallons of runoff per minute, which comes out to 6 million gallons a day. To put this in perspective, an Olympic size swimming pool contains 660,430 gallons; that means Excelsior Geyser discharges a little over nine Olympic swimming pools worth of water on a daily basis.
Tags: Excelsior Geyser YNP Yellowstone Yellowstone National Park
© All Rights Reserved
Midway Geyser Basin consisting of two large pools, Midway’s main attraction is undoubtedly Grand Prismatic Spring. But Excelsior Geyser (or rather, its crater) is the first feature you pass on the boardwalk. A steaming body of teal water running off into the Firehole River, Excelsior has been like this for most of its recorded history. For a time though, it was the largest geyser in the world.
Tags: Excelsior Geyser YNP Yellowstone Yellowstone National Park
© All Rights Reserved