Emerald Spring facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Emerald Spring |
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Norris Geyser Basin
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| Name origin | Philetus Norris, park superintendent (1877-82) |
| Location | Norris Geyser Basin, Yellowstone National Park, Park County, Wyoming |
| Coordinates | 44°43′32″N 110°42′15″W / 44.725665°N 110.704276°W |
| Elevation | 8,448 feet (2,575 m) |
| Type | Hot Spring |
| Temperature | 83.3 °C (181.9 °F) |
| Depth | 27 feet (8.2 m) |
Emerald Spring is a beautiful hot spring found in the Norris Geyser Basin of Yellowstone National Park. It's famous for its amazing green color, which makes it look like a giant emerald gem.
The Story Behind Emerald Spring's Name
This unique hot spring was first called Emerald Geyser. It got its name from Philetus Norris, who was the park superintendent from 1877 to 1882. He chose the name because of its stunning green color.
Later, in 1930, the U.S. Geological Survey officially changed its name. They decided to call it Emerald Spring instead.
In 1892, an American scientist named Robert W. Wood visited the spring. He played a clever trick on some people watching the spring. He secretly added a special dye called fluorescein to the water. This made the water turn incredibly bright and colorful, surprising everyone!
What Makes Emerald Spring So Special?
Emerald Spring is quite deep, going down about 27 feet (8.2 m). The water inside is very hot, usually around 83.3 °C (181.9 °F).
The spring's amazing emerald green color comes from a cool trick of light and minerals. Sunlight shines through the water, making the light appear blue. This blue light then reflects off yellow sulfur minerals at the bottom. When blue and yellow mix, they create the vibrant green color you see!
Most of the time, Emerald Spring is a calm pool. You might see just a few bubbles gently rising to the surface. However, it can sometimes get a bit cloudy or "turbid." It also has small eruptions that can reach about 3 feet (1 meter) high.
In 1931, Emerald Spring had a very active period. During this time, it erupted much higher, with water shooting up between 60 to 75 feet (18.2 to 22.9 meters) into the air!
