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All the United States Wyoming Yellowstone National Park Grand Prismatic Spring
AO Edited

Grand Prismatic Spring

The largest hot spring in the United States is, as the name suggests, a stunning show of natural color.

Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming

Added By
Chase Ochoa
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Grand Prismatic Spring   Frank Kovalchek on Flickr
Grand Prismatic Spring   Frank Kovalchek on Flickr
Grand Prismatic Spring   Sam Beebe on Flickr
Grand Prismatic Spring   Kristi on Flickr
8/17/2019   exploringwithesch / Atlas Obscura User
  breaingram / Atlas Obscura User
8/17/2019   exploringwithesch / Atlas Obscura User
  WhiskeyBristles / Atlas Obscura User
Grand Prismatic Spring 6.12.2017   mmwoodruff / Atlas Obscura User
  paigeelizabeth3660 / Atlas Obscura User
8/17/2019   exploringwithesch / Atlas Obscura User
8/17/2019   exploringwithesch / Atlas Obscura User
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About

With a name like the Grand Prismatic Spring, a natural wonder has a lot to live up to and this huge hot spring in Yellowstone Park is more than up to the task with its vivid rainbow ring of colors.

First discovered in the early 1800's amidst the geysers and sulfurous bubblings of Yellowstone National Park, the record setting natural wonder has been stunning visitors for over a century. The pool is a piercing blue surrounded by rings of color ranging from red to green. The otherworldly effect is caused by varieties of pigmented bacteria and microbes that thrive in the warm, mineral abundant waters surrounding the hot spring. Changing along with the seasons the colors fade and grow more deep depending on what type of bacteria is thriving in the weather at the time. The center of the pool, where the water boils up from underground is so hot that the water is actually sterile. This produces a shockingly clear and bold blue color that the spring maintains year-round. 

The Grand Prismatic Spring is one of America's more beautiful sites to look at, just don't touch as the boiling heat could likely melt skin from bone, mixing blood red into the deep blue.  

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Natural Wonders Nature National Parks Water

Know Before You Go

From Madison Junction head south towards Old Faithful. Or travel north from Old Faithful. Park in the Midway Geyser parking area, and it is a short walk uphill on the boardwalks. Parking is limited, and the boardwalks become crowded if 3 or more tour buses arrive at the same time. There is a picnic area 1/4 mile north which offers parking, and there is very limited parking along the road. Use extreme caution if you park on the roadside and walk.

Community Contributors

Added By

nintendoocho

Edited By

adventurousfriend, EricGrundhauser, WhiskeyBristles, mmwoodruff...

  • adventurousfriend
  • EricGrundhauser
  • WhiskeyBristles
  • mmwoodruff
  • breaingram
  • paigeelizabeth3660
  • exploringwithesch

Published

April 18, 2014

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Sources
  • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand_Prismatic_Spring
  • http://mms.nps.gov/yell/ofvec/exhibits/treasures/thermals/hotspring/grandprismatic.htm
  • http://www.lpi.usra.edu/education/fieldtrips/2007/explorations/grand_prismatic/
Grand Prismatic Spring
US-191
Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, 82190
United States
44.525125, -110.83901
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Nearby Places

Morning Glory Pool

Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming

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Photo of Yellowstone National Park

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