Yellowstone: The First National Park on Earth
They didn't think anyone would believe them. The fur trappers who returned from Yellowstone in the early 1800s told stories of boiling rivers, geysers shooting water hundreds of feet, and pools of brilliant colors that seemed painted. They were dismissed as liars or drunks. Only official expeditions in the 1870s confirmed what the trappers had seen. The Washburn expedition of 1870 produced the proposal that made Yellowstone protected land: rather than dividing the wonders among private owners, preserve them for all. In 1872, President Grant signed the act creating the world's first national park. The idea of preserving wilderness for public benefit began here, above a supervolcano, surrounded by geysers.
The Volcano
Yellowstone sits atop a supervolcano - a volcanic system capable of eruptions thousands of times larger than typical volcanoes. The Yellowstone Caldera, 34 by 45 miles, formed during three cataclysmic eruptions over the past 2.1 million years. The most recent, 640,000 years ago, ejected 240 cubic miles of debris. The volcanic heat that powers Yellowstone's geothermal features comes from a magma chamber miles below the surface, kept hot by a plume of molten rock extending deep into the mantle. The volcano is monitored continuously; significant eruption is not expected soon but cannot be ruled out. The park's beauty is explosive geology in temporary pause.
The Geysers
Yellowstone contains more geysers than the rest of the world combined - over 500 in the park. Old Faithful is the most famous, erupting approximately every 90 minutes, predictable enough to draw crowds who wait on benches for the show. But Steamboat Geyser, in Norris Basin, is the world's tallest active geyser, reaching 300 feet when it erupts (unpredictably). The Grand Prismatic Spring, larger than a football field, displays rainbow colors created by heat-loving bacteria. Morning Glory Pool, Mammoth Hot Springs, the Mud Volcano - the geothermal features are bizarre and beautiful, windows into the volcanic activity beneath.
The Wildlife
Yellowstone preserves the largest concentration of mammals in the lower 48 states. Grizzly bears, reintroduced wolves, bison herds, elk, moose, and mountain lions roam landscape largely unchanged since pre-European contact. The wolf reintroduction of 1995 transformed the ecosystem: elk behavior changed, willows recovered along streams, beaver populations rebounded. The cascade of effects demonstrated ecological complexity that management hadn't anticipated. Bison, hunted nearly to extinction in the 19th century, maintain a genetically pure herd in Yellowstone - descendants of 23 animals that survived the slaughter. The park is wildlife refuge in a landscape that once was nothing but.
The Idea
Yellowstone established the concept of national parks - public lands preserved for public benefit rather than private development. The idea spread from America worldwide; over 100 nations now have national park systems inspired by Yellowstone's example. The park's establishment wasn't purely idealistic - railroad interests wanted tourist destinations - but the result transcended commercial motives. The land belongs to the public; the public may visit but not destroy. The idea seems obvious now but was revolutionary in 1872, when the dominant attitude toward wilderness was exploitation. Yellowstone proved that some things were worth keeping wild.
Visiting Yellowstone
Yellowstone National Park occupies northwestern Wyoming with extensions into Montana and Idaho. Five entrances provide access; the park is 3,472 square miles. The Grand Loop Road connects major features: Old Faithful, Yellowstone Lake, the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, Mammoth Hot Springs. In-park lodging includes historic hotels (Old Faithful Inn, Lake Yellowstone Hotel) and cabins; reserve far in advance. Gateway communities offer additional lodging. Summer is crowded; spring and fall offer wildlife viewing and smaller crowds. Winter opens snowcoach and cross-country ski access. The park is vast; allow multiple days. Wildlife viewing is best at dawn and dusk. Stay 100 yards from bears and wolves, 25 yards from other animals. The experience of standing beside a geyser, or watching wolves hunt, or seeing the caldera's scale cannot be replicated elsewhere.
From the Air
Located at 44.43°N, 110.59°W in northwestern Wyoming. From altitude, Yellowstone's caldera is visible as a broad depression surrounded by mountains. The geothermal areas appear as light-colored terrain - mineral deposits and steam contrast with surrounding forest. Yellowstone Lake, one of the largest high-altitude lakes in North America, dominates the park's southeast. The Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone is visible as a yellow-walled gash. The road network traces the Grand Loop. The park's remoteness is apparent: few roads penetrate the surrounding wilderness. The fires of 1988 left visible scars, now recovering. What appears from altitude as forested plateau is a supervolcano's caldera, thermal features venting pressure from miles-deep magma, the world's first national park protecting geology that could reshape the continent.