Yellowstone, the first national park in the world!

Yellowstone National Park

Is a national park located primarily in the U.S. state of Wyoming, although it also extends into Montana and Idaho. It was established by the U.S. Congress and signed into law by President Ulysses Grant on March 1, 1872. Yellowstone, widely held to be the first national park in the world, is known for its wildlife and its many geothermal features, especially "Old Faithfull Geyser", one of the most popular features in the park. 

Mammoth hot spring in Yellowstone

Yellowstone has many types of ecosystems, but the subalpine forest is most abundant. It is part of the south Central Rockies forest ecoregion.

Native Americans have lived in the Yellowstone region for at least 11,000 years.

Lower Falls of the Yellowstone River

Places and measures of Yellowstone National Park

Yellowstone National Park spans an area of 3,468.4 mil² (8,983 Km²), comprising lakes, canyons, rivers and mountain ranges. Yellowstone Lake is one of the largest high altitude lakes in North America and is centered over the Yellowstone Caldera, the largest supervolcano on the continent.

Yellowstone Lake

Yellowstone Morning Glory Pool

The Caldera is considered an active volcano. It has erupted with tremendous force several times in the last two million years. Half of the world´s geothermal features are in Yellowstone, fueled by this onoging volcanism. Lava flows and rocks from volcanic eruptions cover most of the land area of Yellowstone.

Grizzlies bear in Yellowstone

Hundred of species of mammals, birds, fish and reptiles have been documented, including several that are either endangered or threatened. The vast forests and grasslands also include unique species of plants.

Yellowstone National Park History

The park is located at the headwaters of the Yellowstone River, from which it takes its historical name. It is commonly believed that the river was named for the yellow rocks seen in the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, the Native American name source is not cleared.

Wolf in Yellowstone

The human history of the park begins at least 11,000 years ago when aboriginal Americans first began to hunt and fish in the region. During the construction of the post office in Gardiner, Montana, in the 1950´s, an obsidian projectile point of Clovis oringin was found that dated from aproximately 11,000 years ago. This paleo-indians, of the Clovis culture, used the significant amounts of  obsidian found in the park to make cutting tools and weapons.

"Ghost Bear" was a Crow warrior Native American Indian. The Crow, also called the Absaroka or Apsaalooke, are Siouan-language tribe of Native Americans who historically lived in the Yellowstone River valley. This photo of Ghost Bear, in full warrior head dress, was taken in early 1908.

Arrowheads made of Yellowstone obsidian have been found as far away as the Mississippi Valley, indicating that a regular obsidian trade existed between local tribes and tribes farther east.

Shoshone Indians at Yellowstone

By the time white explorers first entered the region during the Lewis and Clark Expedition in 1805, they encountered the Nez Perce, Crow, and Shoshone tribes. While passing through present day Montana, the expedition members were informed of the Yellowstone region to the south, but they did not investigate it.

Lewis and Clark on the Lower Columbia by Charles Marion Russell

In 1806, John Colter, a member of the Lewis and Clark Expedition, left to join a group of fur trappers. After splitting up with the other trappers in 1807, Colter passed through a portion of what later became the park, during the winter of 1807-1808. He observer al least one geothermal area in the northeastern section of the park, near Tower Fall. After surviving wounds he suffered in a battle with members of the Crow and Blackfoot tribes in 1809, he described a place of "fire and brimstone" that most people dismissed as delirium; the supposedly imaginary place was nicknamed "Colter´s Hell" Over the next 40 years, numerous reports from mountain men and trappers told of boiling mud, steaming rivers, and petrified trees, yet most of these reports were believed at the time to be myth.

Tower Falls

Flora and Fauna

Over 1,700 species of trees and other vascular plants are native to the park. another 170 species are considered to be exotic species and are non-native. Of the eight conifer tree species documented, Lodgepole pine forests cover 80% of the total forested areas. Other conifers, such as Subalpine Fir, Engelmann Spruce, Rocky Mountain Douglas-fir and White Pine, are found in scattered groves throughout the park.

Yellowstone is widely considered to be hte finest megafauna wildlife habitat in the lower 48 states. There are almost 60 species of mammals in the park, including the gray wolf, the Threatened lynx, and gryzzly bears. Other large mammals include the bison, black bear, elk, moose, mule deer, white-tailed deer, mountain goat, pronghorn, bighorn sheep, and mountain lion.

Grazing Bull Elk, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming

Recreation in Yellowstone National Park

Yellowstone ranks among the most popular national parks in the U.S. Since the mid 1960´s, at least 2 million tourists have visited the park almost every year. At peak summer levels, 3,700 employees work for Yellowstone National Park concessionaires. Concessionaires manage nine hotels and lodges, with a total of 2,238 hotel rooms and cabins available. They also oversee gas stations, stores and most of the campgrounds. Another 800 employees work either permanently or seasonally for the National Park Service.

Things to do in Yellowstone National Park

Winters activities in Yellowstone

When the snow flies and temperatures fall there´s still plenty of activities to enjoy in Yellowstone Country and no crowds to speak of. You can do snowboarding, skiing, snowmobiling, snowshoeing, and snowcoach tours are just some of the ways to enjoy this winter wonderland.

Snowmobiling 

More information click here

Summer Activities

Whether you´re a horseback rider or a backpacker, a hiker or a biker, or you prefer to be on the water, there are activities for all ages and activity levels in this  beautiful national park. For beginners there are fishing, hiking, and horseback riding guides who can show you the ropes and the hidden sweet spots throughout the park.

For experienced outdoors people grab a map and your gear, them tramp into the wilderness for a physical adventure that rivals all others. 

Kayaking in Yellowstone.

More information click here

Guided Tours

You have many options for guided tours, see Yellowstone through the eyes of the pros with any number of guided tours.

More information click here

Hiking in Yellowstone National Park

While there´s plenty to see from Yellowstone´s roads, most of the park 98% is rugged, beautiful, dynamic wilderness. To explore Yellowstone´s wild side, get off the beaten path and onto the park´s 1,300 miles trail system.

Hiking in Yellowstone

More information click here

Nature Photography

Everything to do with taking photos in Yellowstone National Park. Photo blogs from nature photography experts. Whether you´re shooting a scenic Yellowstone landscape, photographing bison in Lamar Valley, or capturing the intense colors of a hot spring.

John Photographing a Bear, Yellowstone - Credit Rachel McCubbin

Great Prismatic Spring by John McCubbin

More information click here

If you want more information about Yellowstone, you can visit:

• National Park Service
• Yellowstone official website
• Yellowstone National Park lodges

Thanks for visiting, please share this site with your family and friends, please support and follow this page on twitter and G+.