Emerald Spring

Emerald Spring

Emerald Spring
Norris Geyser Basin
Name origin Philetus Norris, park superintendent (1877-82)
Location Norris Geyser Basin, Yellowstone National Park, Park County, Wyoming
Coordinates [1]
Elevation 8,448 feet (2,575 m) [2]
Type Hot Spring
Temperature 83.3 °C (181.9 °F) [1]
Depth 27 feet (8.2 m)
Norris Geyser Basin

Emerald Spring is a hot spring located in Norris Geyser Basin of Yellowstone National Park.

Contents

History

Originally named Emerald Geyser by Philetus Norris, park superintendent (1877–1882) because of its color, the name was later officially changed to Emerald Spring by the U.S. Geological Survey in 1930.[3]

Characteristics

Emerald Spring is 27 feet (8.2 m) deep.[4] The water temperature in the spring is around 83.3 °C (181.9 °F).[1] The spring gets its name from the emerald green color of the water created by sunlight filtering through the water, giving the light a blue color, and reflecting off the yellow sulphur creating the green hue.[4]

While Emerald Spring is a mostly calm pool, which usually only has a few bubbles rising to the surface, it does experience periods of turbidity and small 3-foot (1 m) high eruptions. In 1931, Emerald experienced a period of extremely vigorous activity with eruptions measuing 60 to 75 feet (18.2–22.9 m) in height.[5]

References

  1. ^ a b c "Emerald Spring". Yellowstone Geothermal Features Database. Montana State University. http://www.rcn.montana.edu/resources/features/feature.aspx?nav=11&id=6266. 
  2. ^ "Emerald Spring". Geographic Names Information System, U.S. Geological Survey. http://geonames.usgs.gov/pls/gnispublic/f?p=gnispq:3:::NO::P3_FID:1609415. 
  3. ^ Haines, Aubrey L. (1996). Yellowstone Place Names-Mirrors of History. Niwot, CO: University Press of Colorado. pp. 148. ISBN 0870813838. 
  4. ^ a b "Emerald Spring". Yellowstone Online Tours. National Park Service. http://mms.nps.gov/yell/features/norristour/emerald.htm. 
  5. ^ "Emerald Spring". Geyser Observation and Study Association (GOSA). http://geyserstudy.org/geyser.aspx?pGeyserNo=EMERALDSPRING. 

External links