Mammoth Hot Springs
July 30, 2006
Provided by: Jude Fontenot
Summary authors & editors: Jude Fontenot
This photo is a close up of the lower terrace of Mammoth Hot Springs in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming. It was taken this past winter when very cold air and azure blue skies made the steam emanating from the hot springs even more obvious than usual. The contrast of snow drifts adjacent to the boiling water was quite fascinating. These springs are divided into upper and lower terraces, which are formed from heated water surfacing in the cracks of limestone. You can't really see it here, but the microorganisms and living bacteria in the springs create beautiful shades of oranges, pinks, yellows, greens, and browns. The springs are constantly changing. As the mineral deposits grow, the water is forced to flow in different directions, creating a living sculpture.
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