By Katherine Kally
Yellowstone National Park stretches across three states.
Yellowstone National Park was established in 1872 and reaches into three U.S. states: Wyoming, Montana and Idaho. Bears, wolves, buffalo and elk all call Yellowstone home, along with 322 recorded species of birds. Yellowstone Lake is a particularly prominent part of the landscape with more than 141 miles of shoreline and an average depth of 140 feet. The park is rich in natural resources, cultural resources and facilities.
Geology
Yellowstone National Park has one active volcano and experiences between 1,000 and 3,000 earthquakes annually, according to the U.S. Government's National Park Service website. There are 290 waterfalls in the park that are more than 15 feet high and flow year round. The tallest waterfall, Lower Falls of the Yellowstone River, flows from 308 feet. Geysers in the park number more than 300, the most famous of which is Old Faithful.
Cultural Resources
Cultural resources in Yellowstone include more than 1,000 documented archeological sites and 1,106 historic structures. The park also houses six National Historic Landmarks and nearly 200,000 museum objects. You'll also find around 90,000 photographic prints and negatives and 20,000 titles in the park's library. Yellowstone is affiliated with 21 American Indian tribes, with information about their heritage and contributions also present within the park.
Facilities
Yellowstone National Park offers facilities for camping, hiking and lodging as well as 52 picnic areas and one marina. You can choose to stay at one of 12 campgrounds with a total of 2,154 campsites or reserve a room at one of the nine hotels and lodges. While you're at the park, drop by one of the nine visitor's centers and museums. You'll find one at each of the five entrances and four others scattered about the 3,472 square miles of park.
General
Yellowstone was the nation's first national park. You'll find 96 percent of the park in Wyoming, 3 percent in Montana and 1 percent in Idaho. The highest point is Eagle Peak at 11,358 feet, and the lowest point is Reese Creek at 5,282 feet. Approximately 80 percent of the park is forested and just 5 percent is covered by water. The other 15 percent is grassland.
Resources
About the Author:
Katherine Kally is a freelance writer specializing in eco-friendly home-improvement projects, practical craft ideas and cost-effective decorating solutions. Kally's work has been featured on sites across the Web. She holds a Bachelor of Science in psychology from the University of South Carolina and is a member of the Society of Professional Journalists.
Photo Credits:
The Yellowstone River in Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming image by Gary from
Fotolia.com
