Black Sand Basin Hot Springs facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Black Sand Basin |
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Emerald Pool at the Black Sand Basin
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| Location | Yellowstone National Park |
| Coordinates | 44°27′46″N 110°51′17″W / 44.4628°N 110.8547°W |
| Elevation | 7,292 |
| Type | Volcanic geothermal spring |
| Discharge | 33 gallons per minute |
| Temperature | 201°F (94°C) |
Black Sand Basin is a cool area in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming. It's full of amazing hot springs and geysers. These are natural features where hot water comes out of the ground.
The water here is super hot, usually over 200 degrees Fahrenheit (94°C)! That's way too hot for swimming or bathing. In the winter, you can even find a ski trail that goes from the Old Faithful Visitor Center right to Black Sand Basin.
What is Black Sand Basin?
This special place gets its name from the dark, shiny sand found all around. This sand is made of a type of volcanic glass called obsidian. It looks like black glass!
The basin is home to several colorful hot springs and active geysers:
- Emerald Pool is a beautiful green color, around 154.6°F (68.1°C).
- Rainbow Pool shows off many colors, reaching about 161°F (71.7°C).
- Sunset Lake is one of the hottest pools, at about 180°F (82.2°C).
- Opalescent Pool has a milky, shimmering look, around 144°F (62.2°C).
- Green Spring is another vibrant hot spring.
You can also see two geysers here:
- Cliff Geyser erupts at about 191.8°F (88.8°C).
- Spouter Geyser is almost boiling at 199.9°F (93.3°C).
These amazing features are located near Iron Spring Creek, at the bottom of the Rhyolite Cliffs.
A Bit of History
When Black Sand Basin was first explored in 1878, it had a different name. A man named A. C. Peale called it the "Emerald Group." But visitors started calling it "Black Sand Basin" because of the unique black sand. The new name stuck!
One popular spot in the past was called "Handkerchief Pool." People used to drop a handkerchief into the pool. The hot water currents would carry it away, and then, like magic, it would pop back up to the surface, looking clean! It was a fun trick for tourists.
Gallery
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Sunset Lake
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Green Spring
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Rainbow Pool
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Cliff Geyser Erupting
