Yellow Water, Yellow Stones, Orange Lichens, etc.

[urbpan]

On our last day in the park, we woke up early to beat the traffic and see some things without being surrounded by fellow tourists. It worked, in fact the park is even more beautiful in the early hours because the hot springs react with the cool air to make mists and such. This is part of Canary Springs.



Orange Spring Mound is an active geothermal feature. It's colors are produced by various microbes, including diatoms.


Another view of Orange Spring Mound.


Nearby, other rocks are orange with lichen.


This is an inactive thermal feature called Elephant Back.


"Well, the trees they got much smaller, the lake a lady's mirror, we stopped to drink some wine."


One of the most amazing things to me about Yellowstone is the experience of driving up a mountain, and when it levels off there's a lake there. This is Swan Lake.


I'd call this plant "artichoke thistle" but I'm sure it has its own name. I don't know what it is, though.


This is Sheepeater Cliffs, one of many sets of geometric basalt columns in the park.


They are wonderfully painted with many colorful lichens.

Comments

[kryptyd.livejournal.com]

Those last two are a very similar formation to the famous Giant's Causeway up north here.

[brush-rat.livejournal.com]

My folks were out there around 45 years ago. I remember being fascinated by slides of the causeway that my dad took.

[wynnsfolly.livejournal.com]

enjoying your yellowstone pics
is that maybe variety of scotch thistle?
http://extension.missouri.edu/explorepdf/agguides/pests/ipm1014.pdf (pg 16)
http://www.co.larimer.co.us/publicworks/weeds/30weeds/scotch.htm
http://www.invasivespeciesinfo.gov/plants/scotchthistle.shtml

seems to be a problem well within that area. several years ago a variety of thistle became a problem as far east as Missouri and Arkansas.
I want to say it was called monk thistle, but this may be just a senior moment on my part since I can't find a reference to it now. however, I have encountered it, whatever variety it is, and it is indeed a real pain to deal with in cattle pastures.

[urbpan.livejournal.com]

I don't think so--although there are several species of thistle and knapweed that are problems in Yellowstone county.

[elainetyger.livejournal.com]

Thank you for all the pictures of the springs and the thermophilic microbes.

hi

[(Anonymous)]

the last one i like