Excelsior Geyser

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The pool and runoff from the Excelsior Geyser crater.
The pool and runoff from the Excelsior Geyser crater.

Excelsior Geyser is a hot spring in the Midway Geyser Basin of Yellowstone National Park in the United States.

The Excelsior Geyser pool discharges 4,000 to 4,500 gallons (15,100–17,000 l)[1] of 199°F (93°C)[2] water per minute. Until 1890, it was an active geyser that often erupted to 300 feet (91 m) high. It is believed that powerful eruptions damaged its internal plumbing system, and it now boils as a hot spring most of the time.

Excelsior Geyser in full eruption, 1890.

In 1985, Excelsior returned to activity for a 45 hour period from September 14 to 16. These eruptions were relatively small at 30 feet (9 m) but a few were as much as 75 feet (23 m) tall and 75 feet wide. All of these eruptions lasted about 2 minutes with intervals of 5 to 66 minutes between.[3]

[edit] References

  1. ^ Excelsior Geyser. Geyser Observation and Study Association (GOSA) (2006). Retrieved on May 22, 2006.
  2. ^ Thermal Springs List for the United States. National Geophysical Data Center (May 22, 2006). Retrieved on May 22, 2006.
  3. ^ Excelsior Geyser. Geyser Observation and Study Association (GOSA) (2006). Retrieved on May 22, 2006.

[edit] External links