More than half of the geysers on Earth are located in Yellowstone National Park. The most famous is Old Faithful, the biggest of the regular geysers in the park. It has fairly reliably spewed hot water and steam between 50 and 110 minutes for the at least the last 135 years.
Who first discovered Old Faithful?
The most famous Yellowstone geyser was named during the Washburn Expedition. This expedition set out to explore northwestern Wyoming in 1870 and was led by Henry D. Washburn and Nathaniel P. Langford. They visited both the Upper and Lower Geyser Basins, giving it the name Old Faithful because of the regularity of its eruptions. Langford would ultimately be appointed the first superintendent of the park.
What is Old Faithful caused by?
Geysers are formed by a volcanic heat source, sufficient ground water in the area, and a plumbing system with fractures, fissures or other gaps between the rock which allows the heated water to escape. When the ground water is heated, steam bubbles push the water out of the vent. When the pressure decreases on the hot water below, a violent steam explosion is triggered that causes the superheated water to burst into the sky,
How often does Old Faithful erupt?
Old Faithful erupts approximately seventeen times per day.
Is Old Faithful still faithful?
The Yellowstone geyser is still fairly predictable, with predictions made at a 90 percent confidence rate within a 10 minute variation. The amount of time between eruptions depends on the length of the previous eruption. If the eruption was less than three minutes from when water begins, the next eruption is on average 68 minutes from the previous start. If the eruption was more than 3 minutes, then it is usually approximately 94 minutes. This approximation allows park rangers and other interested parties to predict the geyser’s next eruption.
The average interval between eruptions has slowed down a bit. In the 1950s, the average eruption time was 62 minutes. In the 1970s, the average intervaal was 66 minutes. Now, the average interval is 77 minutes. The margin of error of forecasts has also gone up – with predictions now given plus or minus 10 minutes rather than plus or minus 5 minutes. The most likely explanation for this change is seismic activity – earthquakes can change the pressure of the underground system feeding the geyser. Another possible explanation is precipitation. Scientists with the U.S. Geological Survey have found that the geysers erupt more frequently in years when there is more precipitation. During droughts, eruptions have longer intervals.
How far does Old Faithful shoot up?
The National Park records the height of the eruptions by Old Faithful. They range from 106 to 184 feet with the average height of the geyser eruption at 130 feet.
How long is an eruption?
The duration of an eruption is usually between 1.5 minutes and 5 minutes. In a short eruption, about 3,700 gallons of water are expelled. In an eruption of approximately 4.5 minutes, 8,400 gallons of water are released. The water temperature at the vent is approximately 204 degrees Fahrenheit and the steam temperature has been measured above 350 degrees.
What part of Yellowstone is Old Faithful in?
Old Faithful is located in the Upper Geyser Basin in the southwest section of the park. It is south of Madison and west of the West Thumb. Because of the popularity of the geyser, there are a number of park amenities in the area including lodging, food and a visitor center.
Which entrance is closest to Old Faithful?
It is 30 miles from the West Entrance to Old Faithful. This distance usually takes between 45 minutes and an hour if you don’t stop or encounter any traffic jams due to wildlife (bison) on the road.
It is 39 miles from the SOuth Entrance to Old Faithful. This distance usually takes over an hour to traverse by car.
How much does it cost to go to Old Faithful?
The only cost to see Old Faithful is the entrance fee paid at the gates of the National Park. There is no additional admission to see the Old Faithful geyser once you are in the park. If you have an annual pass for the current year or a senior pass already, then there is no additional cost to visit Yellowstone and Old Faithful.
For most people visiting Yellowstone, the financial burden is getting there. The geyser is in the northwest corner of Wyoming and it can be a significant drive (or flight and then drive) for most people to reach it. In addition to the cost of the flight or gas, most people spend several days enjoying the park’s amenities. The most affordable accommodation in the park is a campsite, with a hotel room a more significant expense.
Our Experience
We visited Yellowstone National Park in May 2016. We watched the geyser erupt twice – once from the benches in the plaza that surrounds the geyser and once from the second floor observation deck reached from Old Faithful Inn. If you are in the area, we highly recommend that you take the time to see Old Faithful erupt.