Abyss Pool facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Abyss Pool |
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Abyss Pool
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| Name origin | Chief Park Naturalist Clyde M. Bauer |
| Location | West Thumb Geyser Basin, Yellowstone National Park, Teton County, Wyoming |
| Coordinates | 44°25′06″N 110°34′21″W / 44.4182082°N 110.5725264°W |
| Type | Hot spring pool |
| Temperature | 181 °F (83 °C) |
| Depth | 53 feet (16 m) |
West Thumb Geyser Basin
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Abyss Pool is a beautiful hot spring located in Yellowstone National Park in the United States. It is found within the West Thumb Geyser Basin. Hot springs are pools of water heated by the Earth's natural warmth.
Contents
Discovering Abyss Pool
How Abyss Pool Got Its Name
Abyss Pool was named by Clyde M. Bauer. He was the Chief Park Naturalist. The name "Abyss" comes from how deep the pool looks. Early explorers described seeing far down into its clear waters.
In 1870, Lieutenant G.C. Doane wrote about how clear the water was. He mentioned seeing objects in the "deep abysses" of the spring. This might be why the name was chosen.
Early Descriptions
Visitors have always been amazed by Abyss Pool. In 1883, one person described it wonderfully. They called it "a great, pure, sparkling sapphire rippling with heat." This shows how beautiful and blue the water appeared.
About the Pool
Depth and Temperature
Abyss Pool is quite deep. It goes down about 53 feet (16 m). The water in the pool is very hot. Its temperature is around 181 °F (83 °C). This is too hot for swimming!
When Abyss Pool Erupted
Most of the time, Abyss Pool is a calm hot spring. But sometimes, it can erupt like a geyser! This means water shoots out of the pool.
The first time people saw it erupt was between 1987 and 1991. It erupted again from late 1991 to mid-1992. These eruptions were very tall. They reached heights of 30 feet (9.1 m) to 100 feet (30 m).
Current State
Since 1992, Abyss Pool has been quiet. It has returned to being a non-erupting hot spring. It is still a stunning blue pool that visitors can enjoy.
