Canary Springs (2019)
The upper terraces at Canary Springs, which is part of Mammoth Hot Springs in Yellowstone National Park, appear perched on the edge of a hill. The terraces, composed of calcium carbonate, cover the hillside. The chalky white colors show where there is no current hot springs flow or terrace building. Active terraces are orange, yellows and cream in color. The coloris due to thermophilic organisms growing in the water such as cyanobacteria and bacteria. The water for the hot springs comes from precipitation in the surrounding mountains that runs down into the subsurface. The water is heated at depth. As the water rises it dissolves limestone in the subsurface beneath Mammoth and the surrounding mountains. The hot carbonate rich water comes to the surface and forms the travertine terraces. Geologists estimate that at any given time about 10% of the water in Mammoth Hot Springs is on the surface. The other 90% remains underground.
Canary Springs (2019)
The upper terraces at Canary Springs, which is part of Mammoth Hot Springs in Yellowstone National Park, appear perched on the edge of a hill. The terraces, composed of calcium carbonate, cover the hillside. The chalky white colors show where there is no current hot springs flow or terrace building. Active terraces are orange, yellows and cream in color. The coloris due to thermophilic organisms growing in the water such as cyanobacteria and bacteria. The water for the hot springs comes from precipitation in the surrounding mountains that runs down into the subsurface. The water is heated at depth. As the water rises it dissolves limestone in the subsurface beneath Mammoth and the surrounding mountains. The hot carbonate rich water comes to the surface and forms the travertine terraces. Geologists estimate that at any given time about 10% of the water in Mammoth Hot Springs is on the surface. The other 90% remains underground.