Yellowstone - Norris Geyser Basin

With an easy-going trek from Canyon Village, I arrived at the Norris Geyser Basin, the hottest, oldest and most acidic thermal area in Yellowstone. It was named after Philetus W. Norris, who served as the second superintendent of the park between 1877 and 1882 and was responsible for providing the first detailed report of the basin’s thermal activity. He was also instrumental in the construction of the park’s first roads.

Sitting at the intersection of three major faults, the basin is prone to regular earthquakes. Yellowstone experiences 1,000 to 3,000 earthquakes per year but thankfully most are never felt. The earthquakes are necessary to maintain hydrothermal activity, acting as conduits for the supply of hot water to geysers and hot springs. Earthquakes generally occur in groupings, where a series of earthquakes happen in short periods of time.

The basin is split into two areas: Porcelain Basin at the top and Back Basin below. Porcelain Basin is a barren area, very much resembling a large expanse of white desert with hot springs, vents and pools located sporadically around the trail. Trees do not survive here. The basin takes its name from the milky color of the mineral deposited there.

The Back Basin is the opposite. Heavily wooded and much larger, the geysers are scattered throughout the area. The most interesting ones were the Steamboat Geyser, known as the tallest geyser in the world (300-400ft/91-122m); Vixen Geyser, with its temperamental eruption that can last from minutes to hours with temperatures as high as 195°F/90°C; Cistern Spring, with its colourful palette of brown, orange and green hues; and Emerald Spring, which at a depth of 27ft (8m) is fully lined with sulphur and gives the spring the stunningly vibrant green colour.

The basin is about 115,000 years old and due to constant seismic activity and water fluctuations the geysers/springs change daily. The highest temperature recorded at Norris was 459°F (237°C) at a depth of 1,087ft (326m) below the surface.

I finished my basin exploration at the Norris Geyser Basin Museum. Built in 1930, the rustic design became a template for hundreds of park buildings constructed during that time. In 1982 it was designated a National Historic Landmark. Today, the museum’s exhibits centre around geothermal activity and life in these areas.



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