Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock () or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.
Map view of relocated Yellowstone seismicity recorded during 2008-2022, colored by time, on the left. White line gives the outline of Yellowstone caldera. The A-A’ cross section through Yellowstone Lake is shown at the right and illustrates how seismic swarms that are distinct in time relate to one another. Adapted from Florez and others, 2025 (
Map view of relocated Yellowstone seismicity recorded during 2008-2022, colored by time, on the left. White line gives the outline of Yellowstone caldera. The A-A’ cross section through Yellowstone Lake is shown at the right and illustrates how seismic swarms that are distinct in time relate to one another. Adapted from Florez and others, 2025 (
Map of seismic stations in the Yellowstone region, with numbers of channels indicated by number and sensor type by color. Inverted triangles indicate stations operated by University of Utah Seismograph Stations (UUSS), and squares indicate stations operated by other agencies.
Map of seismic stations in the Yellowstone region, with numbers of channels indicated by number and sensor type by color. Inverted triangles indicate stations operated by University of Utah Seismograph Stations (UUSS), and squares indicate stations operated by other agencies.
EarthScope engineers Brendan Hodge (left) and Lia Lajoie (right) perform upgrades at the WLWY (White Lake) continuous GPS station in Yellowstone National Park. The white box contains the receiver, while the barrel on the ground contains batteries. The tower holds the solar panels, as well as a cellular modem and meteorological sensors that were recently
EarthScope engineers Brendan Hodge (left) and Lia Lajoie (right) perform upgrades at the WLWY (White Lake) continuous GPS station in Yellowstone National Park. The white box contains the receiver, while the barrel on the ground contains batteries. The tower holds the solar panels, as well as a cellular modem and meteorological sensors that were recently
Just some of the hats collected by the Yellowstone National Park Geology Program from sensitive thermal areas throughout the park in 2025. National Park Service photo by Margery Price, September 3, 2025.
Just some of the hats collected by the Yellowstone National Park Geology Program from sensitive thermal areas throughout the park in 2025. National Park Service photo by Margery Price, September 3, 2025.
Aerial view of the summit of Mount Rainier taken during the gas flight. The photo was taken looking south, and Rainier (14,411’) rises prominently above the cloud deck at about 8,000’. Mount St. Helens (8,357’) is faintly visible in the distance.
Aerial view of the summit of Mount Rainier taken during the gas flight. The photo was taken looking south, and Rainier (14,411’) rises prominently above the cloud deck at about 8,000’. Mount St. Helens (8,357’) is faintly visible in the distance.
Yellowstone National Park Geology Program team member Mara Reed uses a long grabber pole to remove a park map, presumably blown from a visitor's hand or pack by the wind, from a feature in Upper Mammoth Terraces. National Park Service photo by Samantha Hilburn, August 2025.
Yellowstone National Park Geology Program team member Mara Reed uses a long grabber pole to remove a park map, presumably blown from a visitor's hand or pack by the wind, from a feature in Upper Mammoth Terraces. National Park Service photo by Samantha Hilburn, August 2025.
Just last week, Kīlauea put on another dramatic display of lava fountaining and flows within the caldera, during its 37th episode of this most recent eruption. It doesn't seem like Hawaii and Yellowstone have a lot in common, but actually, those two magmatic systems have a common cause.
Just last week, Kīlauea put on another dramatic display of lava fountaining and flows within the caldera, during its 37th episode of this most recent eruption. It doesn't seem like Hawaii and Yellowstone have a lot in common, but actually, those two magmatic systems have a common cause.
The Yellowstone caldera is vast – 45 miles across by 30 miles wide. You could fit over 60 islands of Manhattan in this area. There are deep canyons, like the one on the Yellowstone River, that reveal a complex geologic history. And, forested landscapes and features remind us that this special place is ever-changing.
The Yellowstone caldera is vast – 45 miles across by 30 miles wide. You could fit over 60 islands of Manhattan in this area. There are deep canyons, like the one on the Yellowstone River, that reveal a complex geologic history. And, forested landscapes and features remind us that this special place is ever-changing.
Picture a Yellowstone eruption. What comes to mind? It’s a huge explosion, right? Like the one that formed the caldera about 631,000 years ago. But the most common form of eruption in Yellowstone isn’t a huge explosion, it’s a lava flow.
Picture a Yellowstone eruption. What comes to mind? It’s a huge explosion, right? Like the one that formed the caldera about 631,000 years ago. But the most common form of eruption in Yellowstone isn’t a huge explosion, it’s a lava flow.
Just over one year ago, early morning visitors to Yellowstone’s Black Diamond Pool suddenly found themselves filming a spectacular event. The July 23, 2024 hydrothermal explosion threw material hundreds of feet high, including rocks that were a foot or more across.
Just over one year ago, early morning visitors to Yellowstone’s Black Diamond Pool suddenly found themselves filming a spectacular event. The July 23, 2024 hydrothermal explosion threw material hundreds of feet high, including rocks that were a foot or more across.
Grand Prismatic Spring is the largest hot spring in the US, and one of the largest in the world. The boiling lake was named for the spectacular array of colors along its rim.
Grand Prismatic Spring is the largest hot spring in the US, and one of the largest in the world. The boiling lake was named for the spectacular array of colors along its rim.
There’s a lot of hot water in Yellowstone. What’s it heated by? The magma chamber beneath the surface, of course!
There’s a lot of hot water in Yellowstone. What’s it heated by? The magma chamber beneath the surface, of course!
Need time to concentrate or relax? Then listen to the gurgling and bubbly sounds of Steamboat Geyser in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming. "Steamboat Geyser is the world’s tallest active geyser. It showers watchers and drenches the walkway. Days, months, or years pass between the major eruptions of Steamboat Geyser.
Need time to concentrate or relax? Then listen to the gurgling and bubbly sounds of Steamboat Geyser in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming. "Steamboat Geyser is the world’s tallest active geyser. It showers watchers and drenches the walkway. Days, months, or years pass between the major eruptions of Steamboat Geyser.
Need time to concentrate or relax? Then listen to the natural sounds of Beryl Spring in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming. Beryl Spring, in the Gibbon River valley south of Artist's Paintpots, is a complex plumbing system in Yellowstone National Park with a strongly and constantly boiling hot spring pool, and a powerful fumarole just behind the pool.
Need time to concentrate or relax? Then listen to the natural sounds of Beryl Spring in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming. Beryl Spring, in the Gibbon River valley south of Artist's Paintpots, is a complex plumbing system in Yellowstone National Park with a strongly and constantly boiling hot spring pool, and a powerful fumarole just behind the pool.
Need time to concentrate or relax? Then listen to the natural sounds of Blue Mud Steam Vent in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming. Blue Mud Steam Vent is found within the Norris Geyser Basin in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming.
Need time to concentrate or relax? Then listen to the natural sounds of Blue Mud Steam Vent in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming. Blue Mud Steam Vent is found within the Norris Geyser Basin in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming.
Need time to concentrate or relax? Then listen to the natural sounds of a flowing river through Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming. This audio is from a river below the bridge near the Monument Geyser Trailhead in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming.
Need time to concentrate or relax? Then listen to the natural sounds of a flowing river through Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming. This audio is from a river below the bridge near the Monument Geyser Trailhead in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming.
Need time to concentrate or relax? Then listen to the natural sounds of Cinnamon Spouter in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming. Cinnamon Spouter is located in the Black Sand Basin in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming.
Need time to concentrate or relax? Then listen to the natural sounds of Cinnamon Spouter in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming. Cinnamon Spouter is located in the Black Sand Basin in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming.
Need time to concentrate or relax? Then listen to the natural sounds of Congress Pool in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming. Congress Pool is a mud pool/mud pot located in the Norris Geyser Basin in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming.
Need time to concentrate or relax? Then listen to the natural sounds of Congress Pool in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming. Congress Pool is a mud pool/mud pot located in the Norris Geyser Basin in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming.
The camera view is north-northwest from the Biscuit Basin boardwalk looking at Black Diamond Pool, which is in the foreground (the tilted viewing angle is due to the slope of the boardwalk).
The camera view is north-northwest from the Biscuit Basin boardwalk looking at Black Diamond Pool, which is in the foreground (the tilted viewing angle is due to the slope of the boardwalk).
