Yellowstone Lake Facts
- This marvelous product of natural forces most frequently goes by the highly informative common name of Yellowstone Lake. 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.
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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.
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