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More about Yellowstone's volcanic state
Jun. 26th, 2011 05:24 pmI didn't know until last year that Yellowstone was a supervolcano, and I assume that many people don't know, either. But it's one of five on the planet. They are incredibly huge and powerful--the last time this one erupted it spewed material as far as Arkansas. So if it went off, it would be pretty catastrophic (we would be instantly dead in Idaho, for one thing). I think/hope we have several hundred thousand years before that happens--but it's still very active. The caldera itself is 1500 square miles. In comparison. Mt. St. Helen's is only two square miles. Perspective much?
Most volcanoes tend to happen where two plates meet, and this is in the middle of a continent. So what is it doing there? Well, scientists think it was caused by a very strong meteor strike on the Idaho/Oregon border. It damaged the crust of the earth and splashed up magma. Then as the continental plate moved westward, the hotspot "moved" across the state. (Kind of like Hawaii.) The explosions were so violent that the calderas collapsed and destroyed the mountains that were originally there, creating the Snake River and plain. If you look at a map of Idaho, you'll see that the interstate runs in kind of a smile across the bottom part of the state. That's the Snake River valley. The eastern end is Yellowstone. Our town is actually smack over a former volcano, but the only way they know that is from core samples--the caldera completely collapsed. But if you get on US 20 and head NE towards Yellowstone, you will drive through calderas that have not collapsed, like Henry's Lake and the surrounding valleys.
Yellowstone might not be fully erupting right now, but it's still extremely active. (And yes, it will blow again some day.) It heats thousands of springs and smoke holes and mud volcanoes (just like the big ones, only they throw mud instead of lava--they do create the volcano shape) and mudpots and geysers. Sometimes the ground temperatures in some areas of the park get so hot that they fry the trees overhead from the roots up. That's when they close those parts of the park... A lot of the hot pools and springs have naturally occurring chemicals like arsenic in them, seeped up from the volcanic stew underneath. They are so, so pretty! But do NOT touch. And they mean it when they say, stay on the boardwalk and do not wander across the bare ground in a geyser basin. New thermal features show up all the time, and you would hate to step through thin crust and fall into boiling acid. Of all the national parks I've been to, it's definitely the one I feel is the most dangerous! But it's very beautiful, nonetheless. Thousands of people visit from all over the world every year, and you can hear every language on earth around you. But no matter how many tourists are there, I never feel like the people are more powerful. It puts you in your place. The earth is strong, much stronger than you, and we would all do well to respect her.
Most volcanoes tend to happen where two plates meet, and this is in the middle of a continent. So what is it doing there? Well, scientists think it was caused by a very strong meteor strike on the Idaho/Oregon border. It damaged the crust of the earth and splashed up magma. Then as the continental plate moved westward, the hotspot "moved" across the state. (Kind of like Hawaii.) The explosions were so violent that the calderas collapsed and destroyed the mountains that were originally there, creating the Snake River and plain. If you look at a map of Idaho, you'll see that the interstate runs in kind of a smile across the bottom part of the state. That's the Snake River valley. The eastern end is Yellowstone. Our town is actually smack over a former volcano, but the only way they know that is from core samples--the caldera completely collapsed. But if you get on US 20 and head NE towards Yellowstone, you will drive through calderas that have not collapsed, like Henry's Lake and the surrounding valleys.
Yellowstone might not be fully erupting right now, but it's still extremely active. (And yes, it will blow again some day.) It heats thousands of springs and smoke holes and mud volcanoes (just like the big ones, only they throw mud instead of lava--they do create the volcano shape) and mudpots and geysers. Sometimes the ground temperatures in some areas of the park get so hot that they fry the trees overhead from the roots up. That's when they close those parts of the park... A lot of the hot pools and springs have naturally occurring chemicals like arsenic in them, seeped up from the volcanic stew underneath. They are so, so pretty! But do NOT touch. And they mean it when they say, stay on the boardwalk and do not wander across the bare ground in a geyser basin. New thermal features show up all the time, and you would hate to step through thin crust and fall into boiling acid. Of all the national parks I've been to, it's definitely the one I feel is the most dangerous! But it's very beautiful, nonetheless. Thousands of people visit from all over the world every year, and you can hear every language on earth around you. But no matter how many tourists are there, I never feel like the people are more powerful. It puts you in your place. The earth is strong, much stronger than you, and we would all do well to respect her.
