5 Geological Wonders of Wyoming

It’s our hope that each of you, our readers, will enjoy and appreciate this article we present about these 5 Geological Wonders of Wyoming. It was certainly our pleasure to gather the information for you. May it provide you with both education and increased awareness.

Certainly, these locations listed herein represent only a portion of the wonders found throughout this amazing region. It’s our belief, though, that they serve as excellent representations of the marvels found here. Check out some of our other articles, as well.

Grand Prismatic Spring

Grand Prismatic Spring Facts

• Starting off this article about these 5 Geological Wonders of Wyoming we present the breathtaking beauty of the aptly-named Grand Prismatic Spriing.
• This gorgeous geological formation holds the understandably grandiose, though wholly deserved, name applied to it herein. While another feature in its immediate area carries more fame, this marvel is actually the more photographed of the two.
• It’s also famous for its sheer size, as well as its beauty. That’s because it ranks as the third largest of all known hot springs on earth. Only the magnificent Boiling Lake, in Dominica, and Frying Pan Lake in Australia, surpass this site in terms of size.
• Evidence clearly indicates that the local Indigenous Peoples long knew of the existence of this magical structure. The first known sighting of it by a non-native explorer, however, took place in the year 1839. At that time, fur trappers noted its existence.
• Years later, two different expeditions explored the region. The first of these saw it in 1870, also noting another nearby feature. It was the Hayden Geological Survey, in 1871, however, that assigned it the name it now holds, due to its appearance.
• The Grand prismatic Spring forms part of what’s easily one of the best known locations in the world, Yellowstone National Park. Due to its location, and its own natural appeal, it now easily qualifies as one of the most visited tourist sites in the country.

Grand Prismatic Spring Physical Description

The kaleidoscopic majesty of the Grand Prismatic Spring isn’t the only physically impressive attribute of this magnificent work of natural forces. More specifically, that statement holds true due to its sheer physical measurements, as was mentioned previously.

The structure developed a natural shape that’s roughly spherical, though understandably not perfectly so. It’s precise diameter therefore varies, but averages approximately 370 ft (110 m). The extraordinary hot spring further measures roughly 160 ft (50 m) in depth.

Since it certainly qualifies as a hot spring, another aspect of the site is the temperature of the water. This has an impressive source. Due to heating from the magma chamber buried deep beneath the location, this averages about 160 F (70 C) throughout the entire year.

Also due to the great temperature of the water within the Grand Prismatic Spring, evaporation plays an ever present role in its condition. Given its surface area, in addition to that factor, this equates to an impressive average loss of 560 gallons (2,100 L) per minute.

Nature clearly loves balance, however. One might think that such numbers would quickly leave the spring dry. Yet that’s not the case. That’s because the source feeding the awesome spring provides an inflow rate that approximately matches the evaporation rate.

Grand Prismatic Spring Location, Nature, and Ecology

The multi-hued splendor that mankind now appropriately calls the Grand Prismatic Spring formed in a region of the globe already well known for its natural beauty. That’s due to the fact that it formed as part of what’s now known as the continent of North America.

More precisely still, however, the marvel lies in what now constitutes the country of the United States. There, it resides within the confines of Yellowstone National Park. This site, itself incredible, sits neatly in the corner of the states of Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho.

The most recognizable feature of this formation obviously remains its bright, vibrant colors, though. These include shades of orange, yellow, red, green, and blue. These also serve as the origin of the name, since they’re the exact colors dispersed by an optical prism.

These hues themselves actually have an organic basis to them, in addition to a mineral one. That’s due to the amazing fact that enormous quantities of certain microbes that live in its waters. They only live around the edges though, leaving the sterile center blue.

This further alters in accordance with the seasons. During the winter season, these growths of bacteria, known as mats, display a predominantly dark green shade. In the summer season, however, this more commonly tends to be more red and orange in shading.

The Grand Prismatic Spring is a delicate balance of forces, though. Therefore, direct access to the site’s forbidden, including flying drones over it. Though roped off for safety, over the years a total of 20 people have died from falling into its waters, after ignoring warnings.

Old Faithful

Old Faithful Facts

• Next up in this compilation of 5 Geological Wonders of Wyoming is the well-known marvel going by the descriptive term of Old Faithful.
• This magnificent creation of time and geological processes also most commonly goes by the well-earned name for good reason. Yet it does have at least one, less used english language title. That’s the symbolic appellation of Guardian of the Valley.
• It’s clear that ancient Native Americans of the region long knew of its existence. Archaeological evidence indicates that various groups inhabited the immediate region as far back as 11,000 years ago. Their names for the site referred to its many features.
• Regardless of what term’s applied to it, this natural marvel stands out from all the rest. It also earned its name for wholly appropriate reasons. That’s due to the fact that, even today, it represents one of the most predictable such geological features on earth.
• Among non-indigenous people, an expedition led by American, Henry Washburn, first spotted the stunning site in 1870. The nature of the entire region baffled and amazed them. None of its features, though, did so more than this astounding geyser.
• They quickly dubbed it with the name Old Faithful, by which it’s now known by around the world. Thankfully, it lies within the boundaries of what’s today named the Yellowstone National Park. In fact, it represents the single most visited site in the Park.

Old Faithful Physical Description

The astonishing Old Faithful instantly captivates any individual fortunate enough to visit the site. It understandably does so mainly due to its nature. Yet, it also boasts other intriguing and impressive characteristics for those who take the time to notice.

Geysers come in two main categories. Those consist of types rightfully named fountain geysers and cone geysers. This iracle of natural forces represents an example of the latter. It, and others of its type around the world, propel their water from comparatively narrow jets.

Like others of its kind, it displays a roughly cone-shaped shape, as the term implies. The dimensions of the cone itself vary slightly, as minerals are deposited and wash away. At the top of this structure, though, lies the vent from which the superheated water erupts. 

This aspect possesses an approximately rectangular shape. Its width averages about 2 ft (51 cm) across its extent. The length of this aperture, meanwhile, measures roughly 3.5 ft (1.07 m). Despite the incredible pressures and heat, this remains essentially unchanged.

The eruptions of Old Faithful vary in interval, though within a repeating range pattern. These activities also vary in duration, volume, and height. Each additionally lasts for a duration of between 1.5 – 5 minutes. An average eruptions reaches a height of 145 ft (44 m).

Old Faithful Location, Formation, and Activity

The remarkable feature of geology named Old Faithful formed in both a broad and specific region of the globe renowned for its abundance of similar marvels. That’s because this intriguing location formed in part of what’s now known as the continent of North America.

There, this masterpiece of Nature sits within the borders of the United States. Its more exact location places it in the immediate region of the northwestern part of the midwest region. That’s due to the fact that it sits inside the borders of the state of Wyoming.

Unfortunately, scientists do not know excatly when this stunning geyser first began to form. Researchers do know, however, that prior to around 15,000 years ago, the region was buried under glaciers. If it had been present before their formation, they would have erased it.

The amazing site, at least as we know it today, therefore obviously formed sometime after this geological era. The deposition of minerals that formed its cone takes millenia, though. This indicates that its creation likely began relatively shortly after the ice receded, at least.

During the time that recordings of the patterns of Old Faithful have been kept, the interval between eruptions has changed. That interval now measures much longer than it once did. Scientists believe this to be the direct result of many  small earthquakes in the area.

These are also believed responsible for altering the levels of the subterranean water deposits which feed the geyser. Ironically, however, these actually made the geyser more predictable than before. The greater the duration of an eruption, the longer the next interval will be.

Intervals between eruptions nevertheless remain between 45-125 minutes and average 90 minutes today. The average once only measured  66.5 minutes. The volume of water ejected further ranges from between 3,700-8,400 US gallons, depending upon the duration.

Devils Tower

Devils Tower Facts

• Our third choice for inclusion in this gathering of 5 Geological Wonders of Wyoming bears the mysterious appellation of Devils Tower.
• The most frequently used common name for this true marvel of geological forces is the highly attention-grabbing term of Devils Tower. Yet, it does have at least one other english language title. That’s the much less provocative moniker of Bear Lodge.
• The first recorded sighting of this marvel by an explorer occurred in 1875. At that time, Colonel Richard Irving Dodge spotted it during his expedition to explore the region. It’s considered likely, though, that others saw it earlier, but never recorded it.
• Local populations of Indigenous Peoples knew of its existence long before outside explorers ventured into the region, however. Though precisely how long remains unknown, archaeologists say centuries for certain, and possibly even for millenia.
• In the native tongues of various local populations, it holds differing designations. The name Bear Lodge is a translation from both the Cheyenne and Lakota. The original Cheyenne was Mato Tipila, while in Lakota it was the very similar Matȟó Thípila.
• The awesome Devils Tower holds a deep significance in the history of the native population of the region it sits in. Given that, and its natural splendor, it holds a special status that accords it a certain measure of protection against mans depredations.
• That’s due to the fact that, within the borders of the country in which it lies, the marvel represents a national monument. In fact, the Devils Tower National Monument became the very first such created. That historic event took place on September 24, 1906.

Devils Tower Physical Description

The geological wonder best known as Devils Tower never fails to awe and amaze those fortunate enough to view it. It’s also literally impossible to miss, standing out so prominently as it does from the surrounding terrain. It’s an utterly impressive structure.

The amazing tower’s highly unusual structure is characterized by its rather distinctive columnar appearance. Remarkably, this consists of vertically jointed columns with flat tops. These themselves also vary in width, and typically measure around six feet in diameter.

The surface of the tower further holds yet another marvel to bewilder the viewer. That’s because it’s also marked by numerous parallel cracks. Geologists believe these to be the result of cooling and contraction during its formation long ago. It also has a convex summit.

This massive formation has a composition that’s primarily igneous in nature. The main component appears to be a mineral named phonolie porphyry. It’s characterized by its fine-grained texture with large crystals embedded within a matrix of smaller crystals.

The awe-inspiring Devils Tower further impresses one with its sheer physical dimensions. From its base, it rises approximately 867 ft (264 m). That same base also has a circumference measuring roughly 1 mi (1.6 km). Meanwhile, its base diameter equals 600 ft (183 m).

Overall, its coloration adds to its visual appeal, offering a striking contrast against the backdrop of the surrounding landscape. Due to its mineral composition, its hues include various shades of brown, gray, reddish-brown, and, though less common, even black.

Devils Tower Location, Formation, and Ecology

The hauntingly beautiful Devils Tower formed in a part of the globe already well known for its abundance of geological wonders. That exact placement therefore won’t surprise may people. It formed in a portion of what’s now the continent of North America.

Lying inside the national borders of the United States, it further resides inside the state boundaries of Wyoming. There, in lies in the general northeastern section of the state. This places it in what’s known as the Black Hills region, near the Belle Fourche River.

This construct of Nature owes its formation due to volcanic processes, though not eruptive one’s. It formed due to the solidification of magma beneath the Earth’s surface. Around 50 million years ago, molten rock was forced upward into sedimentary rock layers.

Subsequently, the inevitable process of erosion came into play. Over the ensuing millenia, surrounding sedimentary rock gradually eroded away. This inexorable process eventually exposed even the more resistant igneous rock that formed the natural wonder.

While primarily known for its geological significance and cultural importance, This feature also hosts a diverse array of plant and animal life within its surrounding ecosystem. Surprisingly, to some individuals, this includes a wide variety of both plant and animal life.

Vegetation found on or around Devils Tower includes such varied types as grasslands, shrublands, and different types of forests. Common plant species include ponderosa pine, juniper, aspen, cottonwood, sagebrush, and various grasses and numerous wildflowers.

Mammals such as white-tailed deer, elk, pronghorn antelope, coyotes, bobcats, mountain lions, and various small mammals inhabit the area. Birdlife is also abundant, with species such as red-tailed hawks, turkey vultures, peregrine falcons, and numerous songbirds.

Reptiles and amphibians, including snakes, lizards, frogs, and toads, can also be found in the region. The area further supports a wide range of insects and invertebrates, including butterflies, bees, beetles, spiders, and various other arthropods. These play important roles.

Yellowstone Lake

Yellowstone Lake Facts

• Next up in this listing of these 5 Geological Wonders of Wyoming comes the magnificent body of water appropriately named Yellowstone Lake.
• This marvelous product of natural forces most frequently goes by the highly informative common name we’ve used here. It’s also known by a few other titles, though. These include such alternate terms as Eustis Lake, Sublette’s Lake, as well.
• Regardless of which of these monikers one chooses to use, the feature remains a marvel of Nature. It also stands out from similar works of geological actions in its immediate region. That’s because it’s the largest of all such lakes found in the area in which it lies
• Indigenous Peoples long knew of and made use of the site. In fact, archaeological evidence indicates their active presence near and around the gorgeous body of water as far back as 11,000 years ago! At least 26 tribes still claim association with it.
• The earliest known recorded sighting of it by a European explorer, however, only occured in 1836. At that time, trapper John Colter noted spotting it in his journal. It’s possible, though, that unrecorded sigtings by other trappers happened as early as 1820.
• Today, the stunning Yellowstone Lake forms one of the central components of the similarly-named Yellowstone National Park. Given the geography of that location, it also represents the largest freshwater body above 7,000 ft (2,100 m) on its continent.
• Today, the formation forms an extremely popular recreational site. This situation, of course, presents numerous complications for those who strive to maintain its natural state. The Park Service does its best in this regard, but visitors must do theirs, as well.

Yellowstone Lake Physical Description

The fabulous Yellowstone Lake quickly captivates and fascinates those fortunate enough to visit the body of water. Yet, unlike some similar features around the globe, it does not do so only due to its beauty, though it certainly possesses that attribute in great quantity.

That’s true since this large tarn boasts some relatively impressive dimensions. The marvel has a somewhat compressed rectangular shape to it. It holds a width approximately 70% that of its length. The actual physical boundaries vary significantly around its course, naturally.

In total, though, the lake measures roughly 20 mi (32 km) in average length. Its width, however, equals about 14 mi (22.5 km). The extent and irregular nature of its shoreline provide it with another remarkable statistic. It boasts a total of 141 mi (227 km) coastline.

All of these amazing statistics provide the eye-catching Yellowstone Lake with yet more attention-grabbing qualities. The beautiful pool has a surface area that averages 132 sq mi (342 sq km). That naturally varies due to various environmental conditions, though.

It’s also moderately deep for a lake of its type. The average measurement of this aspect equals roughly 139 ft (42 m). In places, however, the floor drops away precipitously. In some of these locations its waters reach depths of up to as much as 394 ft (120 m).

Yellowstone Lake Location, Geology, and Ecology

The remarkable Yellowstone Lake formed in a region of the globe already renowned for its abundance of natural marvels. The exact location of that area of the earth’s surface might still surprise a few people, though. It resides in a lovely part of what’s now North America.

More precisely, this geological masterpiece of time and forces formed within the confines of the United States. There, it sits in the approximate northeastern portion of the country. Nature created it in the northwest corner of the state of Wyoming, near the border.

The surface of this stunning lake remains placid and serence, yet what lurks beneath remains quite different. Its waters merely serve as a figurative mask for what lies beneath. That’s because the bottom of the formation boasts features similar to the rest of the region!

An incredible array of underwater hot springs, fumaroles, and even geysers dot the sections known as Mary bay, Sedge Bay, and West Thumb. Mary Bay additionally hosts multiple hollow silica chimneys. Meanwhile, Bridge Bay holds rock spires up to 20 ft (6.1 m) tall.

The impressive Yellowstone Lake also hosts a thriving ecosystem of its own. Several native species of fish appear in the formation. Cutthroat Trout represent the most abundant of these, with the local population presently being the largest known to exist in North America.

This marvel of Nature also plays a role of vital importance in the lives of other animals, as well, mainly mammals. Larger creatures present include bison, bighorn sheep, and elk. Yet smaller one’s such as the North American Beaver, otters, and weasels also abound.

Mammoth Hot Springs

Mammoth Hot Springs Facts

• Clsoing out this compendium of 5 Ggeological Wonders of Wyoming we present the unearthly splendor that’s known by the term of Mammoth Hot Springs.
• The term applied to it here serves as the general name most frequently applied to a collective group of individual marvels of Nature. It’s also the only accepted general title used for this incredible location today. That wasn’t the case in the past, though.
• That’s because it previously held another descriptive english language appellation. The original english language epithet applied to it was that of White Mountain Hot Spring. Allegedly, this marvel of geological processes also held even earlier english names.
• Those, however, appear to be lost. Local Indigenous Peoples long knew of the existence of this extraordnary site, of course. Their various native languages held different tags for both the overall location and the many individual features found within it.
• The first known recording of it by outsiders, though, occurred in 1871. That discovery took place due to the explorations of the Hayden Survey of the region. It’s known, however, that others knew of it before, but never bothered to record the discovery.
• Fortunately, the incredible Mammoth Hot Springs now enjoys a certain amount of protection from the depredations of man. That’s true because the natural wonder form part of the federally protected greater area now known as Yellowstone National Park.

Mammoth Hot Springs Physical Description

The mind-blowing Mammoth Hot Springs instantly captures the attention of all those who visit this other-worldly site. Yet, it does so for various reasons, due to the visual splendor and distinctiveness of this product of time and natural hydrothermal processes.

The most astounding fact about this location is the sheer number and variety of individual features. Each of these merit attention and appreciation in their own rights. Collected into a single setting, they make for a viewing experience that virtually defies description.

That’s true since at least 60 separate structures of natural geothermal origin appear within the confines of this single wonder of the natural world. Many of them, in fact, fully merit their own high levels of respect and apprecition One such is Minerva Springs and Terrace.

The basic structure of Mammoth Hot Springs consists of a wide, terraced hillside. That’s further formed of the mineral travertine, deposited by the springs. This itself is formed primarily of the large amounts of calcium carbonate exuded by the various formations.

The water itself also catches eye. Though its source sits outside the Yellowstone caldera, the same volcanic system provides its energy. This maintains a mean temperature of about 170 F (80 C). Yet, the amazing mineral composition only accounts for some of the many hues.

Mammoth Hot Springs Location, Formation, and Ecology

The indescribable Mammoth Hot Springs formed in a general region of the world already well known for its abundance of natural wonders. Given the information already provided herein, that location won’t surprise anyone who knows of Yellowstone National Park.

That’s because both the park itself, and this remarkable work of geothermal processes sit on part of the continent of North America. There, it resides in the western section of the United States. The park borders three states, but this marvel itself lies inside Wyoming.

The formation of this marvel extends into the distant past. Three separate supereruptions took place here, 2.1 million, 1.3 million, and 640,000 years ago. The last of these, however, created the caldera underlying this site as it currently exists today. Here, its story begins.

During the last ice age, the gargantuan ice sheet and the thermal activity here interacted. The movement of the glacier carted away earlier mineral deposits. Subsequent to the recession of that immense ice sheet, the construction of the various features we see today began.

The travertine deposits required thousands of years to build to where they are today. The nature of that action also created the tiered effects now present. Variations in chemistry additionally accounts for the different colors and shades appearing in different sections.

Yet, despite the incredibly harsh nature of the environment of Mammoth Hot Springs, life still appears here. That’s due to the fact that microorganisms called thermophiles live, and actually thrive in the hot water. A few species of mites and flies then feed on these.

5 Geological Wonders of Wyoming

We hope that each of you thoroughly enjoyed reading, and hopefully learning from, this article we’ve written about these 5 Geological Wonders of Wyoming. It’s also our hope that doing so has left you with either a new or renewed appreciation for such wonders of Nature.

Unfortunately, many other such features around the world now find themselves facing threats to their continued existence in an undamaged state. Many of those dangers, in fact, stem from the actions of mankind. We must do all we can to protect and preserve them all.

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