Botryoidal Spring facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Botryoidal Spring
Location	Lower Geyser Basin, Yellowstone National Park, Teton County, Wyoming
Coordinates	44°32′06″N 110°47′58″W / 44.534882°N 110.7995285°W / 44.534882; -110.7995285
Elevation	7,335 feet (2,236 m)
Type	Geyser
Eruption height	10 feet (3.0 m)
Frequency	3-5 minutes
Duration	one minute
Temperature	42.2 °C (108.0 °F)

Botryoidal Spring is a special type of geyser found in the Lower Geyser Basin of Yellowstone National Park. Yellowstone is a famous national park located in the United States.

This geyser is known for its unique eruptions and interesting history. It's a great example of the amazing natural wonders you can find in Yellowstone.

What is Botryoidal Spring?

Botryoidal Spring is a "fountain-type" geyser. This means it erupts water in a wide, powerful burst, like a fountain. It is part of a group of geothermal features called the White Creek Group. Other features in this group include A-0 Geyser and Spindle Geyser.

How Did it Get its Name?

The name "Botryoidal" comes from the word botryoidal. This word describes shapes that look like bunches of grapes. Around the opening of the spring, there are cool, bumpy rock formations. These formations are made of a mineral called geyserite. They look like small, round grapes, which is how the spring got its name.

From Hot Spring to Geyser

Botryoidal Spring was not always a geyser. For a long time, it was known as a hot spring. A hot spring is a pool of naturally heated water that flows out of the ground.

However, in 1996, something interesting happened. There was some underground movement, like a small earthquake. This movement caused the hot spring to change. It became an active geyser, erupting water and steam into the air!

How Does Botryoidal Spring Erupt?

Botryoidal Spring erupts quite often. Each eruption lasts for about one minute. After one eruption finishes, it usually takes only 3 to 5 minutes for the next one to start.

The Eruption Process

When Botryoidal Spring erupts, its fountain of water can reach a height of about 10 feet (3 meters).

Here's how an eruption usually happens:

• Right after an eruption, the pool of water is calm and quiet.
• Then, without any warning, the eruption begins!
• It starts with a wide, somewhat noisy burst of water.
• Smaller bursts of water continue for less than a minute.
• Sometimes, an eruption might start with a "blue bubble." This happens when a large bubble of steam rises from deep below the water's surface.

Botryoidal Spring is a fascinating example of how Earth's underground heat creates amazing natural displays.