UPPER GEYSER BASIN and WEST THUMB GEYSER BASIN

Located south of Norris Geyser basin,Upper Geyser basin  has  around  410 geysers. The predictable
geysers found here  includes Old Faithful, Castle geyser, Grand Geyser, Daisy geyser and Riverside
Geyser. The Upper Geyser Basin is Yellowstone’s largest geyser basin and is positioned in between
the Old Faithful area and  Biscuit Basin road . It is home to the world’s largest single
concentration of hot springs. The whole geyser basin occupies only one square mile. 

Several geyser group can be found here like Sawmill group,  Giant group, Myriad group, Grotto
group, Morning glory group, Biscuit basin and  Black sand basin. The most famous geysers here is
the Old  faithful geyser. Less popular ones  include  Giantess geyser, Doublet pool, Solitary Geyser,
 Observation point, Plume geyser, Beehive geyser, Heartspring, Lion group of geysers, Sawmill
 geyser, Grand geyser, Crested Pool and Castle geyser. North section of Upper geyser basin consist
of Beauty pool, Chromatic spring, Giant geyser,Comet geyser, Splendid geyser, Punch Bowl spring,
 Daisy geyser, Grotto geyser, Riverside  geyser, Fan and Mortar geyser, Morning glory pool and
Biscuit basin - Sapphire pool

Old Faithful is the most famous geyser at Yellowstone National Park. This is a cone geyser  which
erupts water to a height of 106 to 185 ft at an interval of 90 mts with a margin of error of 10 mts.

 It is not connected to any of the thermal features in Upper geyser basin . It was the first geyser to be

 named in Yellowstone park and was  named in 1870 by the Washburn expedition team. The

 team explored the region of northwestern Wyoming  that two years later became Yellowstone 

National park. Due to its reliability it got the name Old Faithful which was once called as 

“Eternity’s Timepiece” because of the regularity of its eruptions. 

Around 3700  (1.5 mts ) to 8400  ( 4.5 mts) gallons of hot water are expelled during eruption  which
 depend on the duration of ejection . Split cone geyser and tea pot geyser sit adjacent to Old faithful.
In the early days  of the park, Old Faithful was once degraded and often used as a laundry.  Garments
 placed in the  crater quiescence are ejected thoroughly washed when eruptions take place. Linen and
 cotton fabrics  were undamaged while woolen cloths torn to shreds.

Constructed in 1903–1904, and situated next to Old faithful  geyser is the Old Faithful Inn, a historic

landmark. It  is constructed largely using locally obtained materials including lodge pole pine and

rhyolite stone, This  multi-story log lobby is flanked by long frame wings containing guest rooms.

This  is the largest log hotel in the world and an example of  "Golden Age" of rustic  resort

  architecture, a style which is also known as National Park Service rustic. It is unique in that

 it is one of the few log hotels still standing in the United States. 

West Thumb Geyser Basin is situated between Old faithful and Fishing Village.West Thumb is a 

originally a caldera within a caldera. It derived its name from the thumb-like projection of

 Yellowstone Lake and the name was given by the 1870 Washburn expedition team. Fishing cone

 and Abyss pool are the most popular features here.

 Lake-shore group, Lower group and  Potts Hot spring are the major groups of geysers at West 

thumb. Blowhole Spring , Lone pine geyser, Occasional geyser, Overhanging geyser,Abyss pool, 

Beach  geyser,Big cone, Black pool, Blue funnel spring, Fishing cone,Hill side, King geyser, Lake

 shore  geyser, Ledge spring, Percolating spring, Perforated pool,Roadside steamer, Surging spring, 

Twin  geyser, Mercurial geyser, Resurgent geyser are a few of the named features at West Thumb geyser basin.

 Overlooking Yellowstone river, West Thumb geyser basin has around 84 geysers. There are two 

loops at West Thumb geyser basin. The Inner Loop is 1/4 mile and fully accessible while the Outer

 Loop is 1/2 mile and has steep grades on both sides. Mimulus Pool and Painted pots are seen just at

 the entry. Mimulus Pool seen here has a bluish green color with a smooth texture appearance.

Perforated pool got its name from the high number of vents visible on the bottom of the pool. Hot 

pools in many shades of blue are sprinkled throughout West Thumb Geyser Basin. Many of the areas

 here are closed to public entry. It is believed that a massive explosion has created this basin.At the 

Fisherman's Geyser, now fairly covered by the lake, was once used by Fishermen to cook their fish.

 Absaroka range, early known as Yellowstone range, border the West thumb basin. It is  a sub range

 of Rocky Mountain and forms the core of the Yellowstone region of the Central Rockies. Stretching 

 across Montana- Wyoming border for about 240 km, it constitute the eastern boundary of 

Yellowstone National Park along with Paradise Valley Mountain and the western side of the Bighorn Basin.

History says that around 150,000 years ago a volcanic explosion formed this small caldera, now

 known as West Thumb Geyser basin.Underwater hot springs and geysers keep some areas of West

 Thumb free of snow in winter. With Yellowstone Lake and the Absaroka Range of  mountains 

beyond, West Thumb’s hot pools rest in a tranquil and unique spot..

Along the northwest corner of Yellowstone Lake there are three park villages (Bridge Bay, Lake 

Village, and Fishing Bridge)  which offer a variety of services and activities. It has hotel, visitor 

center, campground , gas station and lodge. Fishing bridge is considered as the northern boundary of

 Yellowstone river. Fishing Bridge was named after the original bridge in 1902,when it was a

popular fishing spot in the park. Tons of cutthroat trout fishes flocks through the water, which can be

watched  from the bridge railings.

Yellowstone National Park is one of the most amazing national park in the world.  From the first 

encounter by John Colter (1804-1806), a member of Lewis-Clark expedition team, the park now 

witness around 3,000,000 visitos per year. All resources and archaeological remains found here are

protected  by federal law. While protecting the natural, historic and cultural resources here, safety of

 the visitors is equally important. Always follow the rules and regulations and seek the aid of rangers 

(known as Spread eagle men ) when needed. Keep this priceless jewel of nature remain unimpaired

 for future generations.