Echinus Geyser facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Echinus Geyser |
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Echinus Geyser during an eruption
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| Location | Norris Geyser Basin, Yellowstone National Park, Park County, Wyoming |
| Coordinates | 44°43′21″N 110°42′05″W / 44.7224352°N 110.7013199°W |
| Elevation | 7,575 feet (2,309 m) |
| Type | Fountain geyser |
| Eruption height | 40 to 60 feet (12 to 18 m) |
| Frequency | rare |
| Duration | 4 minutes |
| Temperature | 80.3 °C (176.5 °F) |
Norris Geyser Basin
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Echinus Geyser is a fascinating geyser found in the Norris Geyser Basin. This area is part of Yellowstone National Park in the United States. It is a special type of hot spring that shoots water and steam into the air.
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Discovering Echinus Geyser
Echinus Geyser got its name a long time ago. It was named during a survey of Yellowstone Park. This happened in the late 1870s or early 1880s. The name "Echinus" comes from the spiky look of its cone. This cone looks a lot like a Sea urchin. Sea urchins belong to a group called Echinoidea.
How Echinus Geyser Erupts
Echinus Geyser's eruptions are not easy to predict. When it erupts, its fountain can reach heights of 40 to 60 feet (about 12 to 18 meters). Each eruption usually lasts for about 4 minutes.
Changes in Eruption Patterns
Before 1998, Echinus Geyser was very regular. It would erupt every 35 to 75 minutes. Sometimes, it even had huge eruptions that lasted almost two hours. Scientists think there might have been a hidden water source underground. This source likely powered those bigger eruptions. It is believed that the connection to this source was cut off. This change led to the geyser's current, less frequent activity.
In October 2017, Echinus Geyser started showing more signs of life. It seemed to be erupting every 2 to 3 hours. The last recorded eruption from this active period was in January 2018. One more eruption was noted in January 2019.
Acidic Water of Echinus Geyser
Echinus is known as the largest acid-water geyser in the world. Its water is quite acidic, with a pH level between 3.3 and 3.6. To give you an idea, this is almost as acidic as vinegar. The water temperature in the geyser is about 80.3 degrees Celsius (176.5 degrees Fahrenheit).
Images for kids
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Echinus Geyser Pool, 1965
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Echinus on June 9, 2018
