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Yellowstone National Park
(May 2023)

Old Faithful Geyser

The world’s most famous geyser, Old Faithful in Yellowstone, currently erupts around 20 times a day. These eruptions are predicted with a 90 percent confidence rate, within a 10 minute variation, based on the duration and height of the previous eruption. During visitor center hours, geyser statistics and predictions are maintained by the naturalist staff. This is done by good old-fashioned observation, timing with a stopwatch, and writing in a log book.

 

People speak of the average time between eruptions. This is misleading. The mathematical average between eruptions of Old Faithful is currently 74 minutes, but it doesn’t like to act average! Intervals can range from 60-110 minutes. Visitors can check for posted prediction times in most buildings in the Old Faithful area.  The famous geyser currently erupts around 20 times a day and can be predicted with a 90 percent confidence rate within a 10 minute variation. Prior to the 1959 earthquake, Old Faithful erupted 21 times per day. That’s a significant decrease in activity for geologists tracking each eruption

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Picture Number: CM1_6525

Date: May 2023

Camera: Nikon D7100

ISO: 100     Shutter Speed: 1/640 sec

F-Stop: f/9     Lens: 50 mm

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Picture Number: CM1_6616

Date: May 2023

Camera: Nikon D7100

ISO: 200     Shutter Speed: 1/125 sec

F-Stop: f/5.6     Lens: 66 mm

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Picture Number: CM1_6642

Date: May 2023

Camera: Nikon D7100

ISO: 100     Shutter Speed: 1/125 sec

F-Stop: f/11     Lens: 48 mm

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Picture Number: CM1_6551_HDR

Date: May 2023

Camera: Nikon D7100

ISO: 200     Shutter Speed: 1/1600 sec

F-Stop: f/20     Lens: 18 mm

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Picture Number: CM1_6618_HDR

Date: May 2023

Camera: Nikon D7100

ISO: 200     Shutter Speed: 1/400 sec

F-Stop: f/5     Lens: 66 mm

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Picture Number: CM1_6621_HDR

Date: May 2023

Camera: Nikon D7100

ISO: 200     Shutter Speed: 1/320 sec

F-Stop: f/5     Lens: 66 mm

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Picture Number: CM1_6535

Date: May 2023

Camera: Nikon D7100

ISO: 100     Shutter Speed: 1/640 sec

F-Stop: f/9     Lens: 23 mm

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Picture Number: CM1_6889

Date: May 2023

Camera: Nikon D7100

ISO: 100     Shutter Speed: 1/250 sec

F-Stop: f/13     Lens: 42 mm

Midway Geyser Basin

Midway Geyser Basin contains a small collection of mammoth-sized springs. Midway is part of the Lower Geyser Basin, but because of its isolated location between the main features of Lower and Upper geyser basins it became known as Midway. Rudyard Kipling, who visited Yellowstone in 1889, immortalized this basin by referring to it as "Hell's Half Acre." Even today it is still remembered by that name. Despite its small size Midway possesses two of the largest hot springs in the world. Grand Prismatic Spring, nearly 370 feet in diameter, sits upon a large mound surrounded by small step-like terraces. The other feature, Excelsior Geyser, erupted nearly 300 feet high before the 1900s. It is now a dormant geyser and is considered a hot spring, discharging more than 4050 gallons of boiling water per minute. Other colorful springs include Turquoise and Indigo springs, known for their pale and dark blue colors. Across the Firehole River from Excelsior and Grand Prismatic springs are a series of small isolated, pristine springs and mud pots.

 

Extremely hot water travels 121 feet from a crack in the Earth to reach the surface of the spring.  The third largest spring in the world, the Grand Prismatic is bigger than a football field at 370 feet in diameter. A gridiron is 360 feet long and 160 feet wide.  The hot spring has bright bands of orange, yellow, and green ring the deep blue waters in the spring. The multicolored layers get their hues from different species of thermophile (heat-loving) bacteria living in the progressively cooler water around the spring. And the deep blue center? That’s because water scatters the blue wavelengths of light more than others, reflecting blues back to our eyes.  In 1968, researcher Thomas Brock discovered a microbe living in one of Yellowstone’s extremely hot springs. In the years since, research on Yellowstone’s microbes has led to major medical and scientific advances, including the sequencing of the entire human genome. These microbes even led to the development of the PCR test, which has been instrumental in creating COVID-19 rapid test to slow the spread of the virus.

Grand Prismatic Pool
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Picture Number: CM1_6722

Date: May 2023

Camera: Nikon D7100

ISO: 125     Shutter Speed: 1/125 sec

F-Stop: f/11     Lens: 12 mm

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Picture Number: CM1_6943

Date: May 2023

Camera: Nikon D7100

ISO: 125     Shutter Speed: 1/125 sec

F-Stop: f/11     Lens: 20 mm

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Picture Number: CM1_6943

Date: May 2023

Camera: Nikon D7100

ISO: 125     Shutter Speed: 1/125 sec

F-Stop: f/11     Lens: 20 mm

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Picture Number: CM1_6946

Date: May 2023

Camera: Nikon D7100

ISO: 110     Shutter Speed: 1/125 sec

F-Stop: f/11     Lens: 11 mm

Picture Number: CM1_6723

Date: May 2023

Camera: Nikon D7100

ISO: 180     Shutter Speed: 1/125 sec

F-Stop: f/11     Lens: 12 mm

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Picture Number: CM1_6953

Date: May 2023

Camera: Nikon D7100

ISO: 125     Shutter Speed: 1/125 sec

F-Stop: f/11     Lens: 13 mm

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Picture Number: CM1_6953

Date: May 2023

Camera: Nikon D7100

ISO: 125     Shutter Speed: 1/125 sec

F-Stop: f/11     Lens: 13 mm

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Picture Number: CM1_6950

Date: May 2023

Camera: Nikon D7100

ISO: 140     Shutter Speed: 1/125 sec

F-Stop: f/11     Lens: 10 mm

Opal Pool
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Picture Number: CM1_6728

Date: May 2023

Camera: Nikon D7100

ISO: 160     Shutter Speed: 1/125 sec

F-Stop: f/11     Lens: 16 mm

Turquoise Pool
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Picture Number: CM1_6959

Date: May 2023

Camera: Nikon D7100

ISO: 100     Shutter Speed: 1/125 sec

F-Stop: f/11     Lens: 10 mm

Black Sands Basin

Named for its black sand (obsidian) which is formed when lava cools too quickly. Obsidian is the natural form of glass. This rare obsidian sand covers much of the Black Sand Basin, which is located within the Upper Geyser Basin of Yellowstone National Park. Jewel-like geysers and beautiful hot springs show vivid colors, which are the main attraction of the area.

Emerald Pool
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Picture Number: CM1_6577

Date: May 2023

Camera: Nikon D7100

ISO: 200     Shutter Speed: 1/400 sec

F-Stop: f/7.1     Lens: 13 mm

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Picture Number: CM1_6581

Date: May 2023

Camera: Nikon D7100

ISO: 200     Shutter Speed: 1/320 sec

F-Stop: f/9     Lens: 13 mm

Firehole River

The Firehole River is located in northwestern Wyoming, and is one of the two major tributaries of the Madison River. It flows north approximately 21 miles from its source in Madison Lake on the Continental Divide to join the Gibbon River at Madison Junction in Yellowstone National Park.

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Picture Number: CM1_6978

Date: May 2023

Camera: Nikon D7100

ISO: 200     Shutter Speed: 1/500 sec

F-Stop: f/11     Lens: 17 mm

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Picture Number: CM1_6964

Date: May 2023

Camera: Nikon D7100

ISO: 100     Shutter Speed: 1/160 sec

F-Stop: f/11     Lens: 14 mm

Sunset on the Madison River

The Madison River, perhaps the most famous of all the rivers in Montana, begins in Yellowstone National Park at the confluence of the Firehole River and Gibbon River. From its origin, it flows for more than 140 miles through exceptionally beautiful scenery before it reaches the Missouri River near the town of Three Forks, Montana. With its beautiful scenery and excellent fishing, a visit to the Madison River is a top priority for many anglers on a Montana fly fishing trip.  The Madison River offers exceptional fishing in a beautiful setting. All fishermen can enjoy the river, as the dry fly fisherman, the nymph fisherman and the streamer fisherman all enjoy success on the river. Despite the Madison’s run-in with whirling disease years ago, the Madison River still provides some of the finest fishing in the state for wild rainbow trout and large brown trout.

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Picture Number: CM1_6985_HD

Date: May 2023

Camera: Nikon D7100

ISO: 200     Shutter Speed: 1/400 sec

F-Stop: f/10     Lens: 20 mm

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Picture Number: CM1_6988

Date: May 2023

Camera: Nikon D7100

ISO: 200     Shutter Speed: 1/400 sec

F-Stop: f/10     Lens: 32 mm

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Picture Number: CM1_6982

Date: May 2023

Camera: Nikon D7100

ISO: 110     Shutter Speed: 1/250 sec

F-Stop: f/8     Lens: 90 mm

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Picture Number: CM1_6996_HD

Date: May 2023

Camera: Nikon D7100

ISO: 200     Shutter Speed: 1/2000 sec

F-Stop: f/11     Lens: 105 mm

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Picture Number: CM1_7000_HD

Date: May 2023

Camera: Nikon D7100

ISO: 200     Shutter Speed: 1/1600 sec

F-Stop: f/10     Lens: 62 mm

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Picture Number: CM1_7008_HD

Date: May 2023

Camera: Nikon D7100

ISO: 200     Shutter Speed: 1/1000 sec

F-Stop: f/9     Lens: 62 mm

Misc. Bison
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Picture Number: CM2_0936

Date: May 2023

Camera: Nikon D7100

ISO: 200     Shutter Speed: 1/500 sec

F-Stop: f/5.6     Lens: 330 mm

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Picture Number: CM2_0796

Date: May 2023

Camera: Nikon D7100

ISO: 200     Shutter Speed: 1/100 sec

F-Stop: f/11     Lens: 450 mm

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Picture Number: CM1_6740

Date: May 2023

Camera: Nikon D7100

ISO: 100     Shutter Speed: 1/125 sec

F-Stop: f/11     Lens: 26 mm

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Picture Number: CM1_6410

Date: May 2023

Camera: Nikon D7100

ISO: 400     Shutter Speed: 1/400 sec

F-Stop: f/5.6     Lens: 140 mm

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Picture Number: CM1_6495

Date: May 2023

Camera: Nikon D7100

ISO: 200     Shutter Speed: 1/125 sec

F-Stop: f/11     Lens: 55 mm

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Picture Number: CM2_0878_GEN

Date: May 2023

Camera: Nikon D7100

ISO: 200     Shutter Speed: 1/500 sec

F-Stop: f/5.6     Lens: 320 mm

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Picture Number: CM2_0823

Date: May 2023

Camera: Nikon D7100

ISO: 200     Shutter Speed: 1/640 sec

F-Stop: f/6.3     Lens: 460 mm

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Picture Number: CM1_6485

Date: May 2023

Camera: Nikon D7100

ISO: 160     Shutter Speed: 1/125 sec

F-Stop: f/125     Lens: 98 mm

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Picture Number: CM1_6408

Date: May 2023

Camera: Nikon D7100

ISO: 200     Shutter Speed: 1/160 sec

F-Stop: f/6.3     Lens: 116 mm

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Picture Number: CM2_0816_UP

Date: May 2023

Camera: Nikon D7100

ISO: 200     Shutter Speed: 1/500 sec

F-Stop: f/8     Lens: 500 mm

Along theYellowstone River

Rivers radiate in every direction from America’s first national park. But only one merits the name Yellowstone. Although its headwaters lie just outside the declared park border in Wyoming’s southern Absaroka Range, the Yellowstone River knows no bounds.

Cutting a diagonal northeast channel across Montana for nearly 700 miles to its confluence with the Missouri River in North Dakota, the Yellowstone River is the longest free-flowing river in the lower 48 states. Within and around Yellowstone National Park, its prestige is punctuated by picturesque waypoints including aptly named Inspiration Point overlooking the thunderous Upper and Lower Falls of the Yellowstone, plummeting 109 feet and 308 feet, respectively, into the near mythical Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone and Black Canyon of the Yellowstone beyond.  North of Yellowstone Park, the river passes through the sublime Paradise Valley, which offers more than 100 miles of Montana’s most popular floating and fishing as it flows casually between the Gallatin and northern Absaroka mountains. The Blue Ribbon trout fishery gradually transitions to cool water habitat along the Great Plains near Billings, where endangered Pallid sturgeon and similarly prehistoric-looking paddlefish join the system.  Throughout the Yellowstone River corridor, wildlife ranges from bald eagles to elk, whitetail deer, black and grizzly bears, native Yellowstone cutthroat trout, and so much more. Recreational activities including fishing, hunting, rafting, wildlife watching and even agate-hunting are incredibly popular along the Yellowstone and are a vital part of the local economy.

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Picture Number: CM1_6866

Date: May 2023

Camera: Nikon D7100

ISO: 125     Shutter Speed: 1/125 sec

F-Stop: f/11     Lens: 27 mm

Uncle Tom's Point
Upper Yellowstone Falls

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Picture Number: CM1_6857

Date: May 2023

Camera: Nikon D7100

ISO: 100     Shutter Speed: 1/200 sec

F-Stop: f/13     Lens: 82 mm

Artist's Point
Lower Yellowstone Falls

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Picture Number: CM1_6806

Date: May 2023

Camera: Nikon D7100

ISO: 200     Shutter Speed: 1/320 sec

F-Stop: f/6.3     Lens: 18 mm

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Picture Number: CM1_6794

Date: May 2023

Camera: Nikon D7100

ISO: 125     Shutter Speed: 1/125 sec

F-Stop: f/11     Lens: 18 mm

Grandview Overlook
Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone

Grandview Overlook
Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone

Misc. Others Locations
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Picture Number: CM1_6470

Date: May 2023

Camera: Nikon D7100

ISO: 100     Shutter Speed: 1/125 sec

F-Stop: f/11     Lens: 26 mm

Gibbon Falls

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Picture Number: CM1_6423

Date: May 2023

Camera: Nikon D7100

ISO: 200     Shutter Speed: 1/80 sec

F-Stop: f/10     Lens: 85 mm

Sheepeater Cliffs

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Picture Number: CM1_6314

Date: May 2023

Camera: Nikon D7100

ISO: 200     Shutter Speed: 1/200 sec

F-Stop: f/7.1     Lens: 66 mm

Big Springs Bridge

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Picture Number: CM1_6448

Date: May 2023

Camera: Nikon D7100

ISO: 100     Shutter Speed: 1/400 sec

F-Stop: f/10     Lens: 22 mm

Roosevelt Arch

The Roosevelt Arch is a rusticated triumphal arch at the North entrance to Yellowstone National Park in Gardiner, Montana.

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