Great Fountain Geyser
One of the geothermal attractions along the Firehole Lake Drive, Great Fountain Geyser can produce eruptions--which occur about every 10 to 14 hours and which last at least 45 minutes--measuring 100 feet, and even sometimes, 200 feet.
"Geysers are hot springs that periodically eject boiling water and steam into the air," reads a National Park Service sign. "Most geysers are unpredictable. Some, like Old Faithful, display patterns of activity...A narrow zone, or constriction, and boiling water are necessary for a hot spring to erupt as a geyser. The constriction keeps water within the system from circulating to the surface for cooling. Eruptions occur as a chain reaction: Water, held within the geyser's plumbing, becomes superheated--heated beyond boiling--and rapidly expands in volume as it changes into steam; then steam bubbles force themselves--and the water above--past the constriction and up into the air."
Click here for the entire Road Trip 2009 package.
July 20, 2009 10:00 AM PDT
Photo by: Daniel Terdiman/CNET
