Context: Yellowstone National Park, located in the western United States, is a natural wonder that spans across the northwest corner of Wyoming, extending into Montana and Idaho.
World’s First National Park: On March 1872, Yellowstone became the first national park in the world. It was established by the 42nd U.S Congress with the Yellowstone National Park Protection Act.
Geothermal Marvels: Within Yellowstone’s vast 2.2 million acres, visitors can witness unique hydrothermal and geologic features. These include approximately half of the world’s active geysers, such as the famous Old Faithful, and mesmerizing geothermal areas. The park is home to the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone River, a breathtaking geological wonder.
Grand Canyon, immense canyon cut by the Colorado River in the high plateau region of northwestern Arizona, U.S. The Grand Canyon lies in the southwestern portion of the Colorado Plateau, which occupies a large area of the southwestern United States and consists essentially of horizontal layered rocks and lava flows.
Wildlife Haven: Yellowstone offers unparalleled opportunities to observe wildlife in their natural habitat. The intact ecosystem allows visitors to encounter animals like bison, elk, wolves, grizzly bears, and more.
Winter Magic: Despite the cold, winter is a magical time to explore Yellowstone. You can traverse the snowy landscape on skis, snowshoes, snowmobiles, or snow coaches.
UNESCO World Heritage Site: Yellowstone’s significance extends beyond national borders—it was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1978.
Recent Finding
- In a hot spring there, a mat of algae is founded and named Fusarium strain flavlolapis, trademarked ‘Fy’.
- The waters were so hot and acidic that algae would normally not thrive.
- The microbe is ‘extremophilic’, capable of thriving under harsh conditions, a trait that enables it to breakdown a variety of materials and convert them into food.
- It is source of high protein food—a tray of the stuff has proteins equal to 35 chickens.