Excelsior Geyser Crater
Excelsior Geyser Crater is a dormant fountain-type geyser in the Midway Geyser Basin of Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming. Excelsior was named by the Hayden Geological Survey of 1871.
The pool of the Excelsior Geyser Crater discharges 15,100-17,000 litres of 93°C water per minute directly into the Firehole River (off to the left above). In the late 19th century (and possibly 1901), it was an active geyser that erupted frequently. Most eruptions were about 30m high, although some exceeded 90m in both height and width. It is believed that the powerful eruptions damaged its internal plumbing system, and it now boils as a productive hot spring most of the time.
In 1985, Excelsior returned to activity for a 46-hour period on 14-16 September. These eruptions were relatively small at 9m but a few were as much as 24m tall and 30m wide. All of these eruptions lasted about two minutes at intervals between five and 66 minutes.
Between 2004 and 2006, Excelsior did have violent boiling strong enough to be considered as eruptions. This boiling reached between 1.5-3m and had a duration of seconds.
The above image looks at the extreme northern end of the crater pool and some of the very colourful microbial mats around the edge. The vehicles in the background are on the park's Grand Loop Road.
Excelsior Geyser Crater
Excelsior Geyser Crater is a dormant fountain-type geyser in the Midway Geyser Basin of Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming. Excelsior was named by the Hayden Geological Survey of 1871.
The pool of the Excelsior Geyser Crater discharges 15,100-17,000 litres of 93°C water per minute directly into the Firehole River (off to the left above). In the late 19th century (and possibly 1901), it was an active geyser that erupted frequently. Most eruptions were about 30m high, although some exceeded 90m in both height and width. It is believed that the powerful eruptions damaged its internal plumbing system, and it now boils as a productive hot spring most of the time.
In 1985, Excelsior returned to activity for a 46-hour period on 14-16 September. These eruptions were relatively small at 9m but a few were as much as 24m tall and 30m wide. All of these eruptions lasted about two minutes at intervals between five and 66 minutes.
Between 2004 and 2006, Excelsior did have violent boiling strong enough to be considered as eruptions. This boiling reached between 1.5-3m and had a duration of seconds.
The above image looks at the extreme northern end of the crater pool and some of the very colourful microbial mats around the edge. The vehicles in the background are on the park's Grand Loop Road.