Colorful Geology
Mammoth Hot Spring's Orange Mound Spring is a sight to see. Colors were nice and rich on this rainy afternoon. Dimensions are 48'x25'x25'. It is quite tall and impressive.
The Orange Mound Spring is thermally cooler (~170˚F) than most springs in Yellowstone and at the Mammoth Hot Springs themselves, allowing the orange-tinted cyanobacteria to thrive and color the spring a darker shade of orange than the rest of the Mammoth Terraces. Depending on the nutrients that the bacteria receive, the color may change throughout the year.
The Spring is said to be very old due to the shape and size of the mound as well as how little water flows out of the spring itself. It has created other nearby cone-shaped springs from itself due to the travertine deposits wearing away.
Have a wonderful weekend!
Colorful Geology
Mammoth Hot Spring's Orange Mound Spring is a sight to see. Colors were nice and rich on this rainy afternoon. Dimensions are 48'x25'x25'. It is quite tall and impressive.
The Orange Mound Spring is thermally cooler (~170˚F) than most springs in Yellowstone and at the Mammoth Hot Springs themselves, allowing the orange-tinted cyanobacteria to thrive and color the spring a darker shade of orange than the rest of the Mammoth Terraces. Depending on the nutrients that the bacteria receive, the color may change throughout the year.
The Spring is said to be very old due to the shape and size of the mound as well as how little water flows out of the spring itself. It has created other nearby cone-shaped springs from itself due to the travertine deposits wearing away.
Have a wonderful weekend!