Labial Geyser facts for kids

Labial Geyser is a fascinating natural wonder found in Yellowstone National Park, USA. It's a special type of hot spring called a cone-type geyser. This means it has a cone-shaped mound built up around its opening from minerals deposited by the hot water. Labial Geyser is part of a group of geysers known as the Pink Cone Group. This group includes other interesting geysers like Labial's Satellite Geyser, Bead Geyser, Box Spring, Dilemma Geyser, Narcissus Geyser, Pink Geyser, and Pink Cone Geyser.

Labial Geyser: Yellowstone's Spouting Wonder

What is a Geyser?

A geyser is a rare kind of hot spring that erupts, sending hot water and steam high into the air. Geysers form when underground water is heated by hot rocks. This superheated water then builds up pressure until it bursts out of the ground. Labial Geyser is located in the Lower Geyser Basin of Yellowstone National Park, an area famous for its many geothermal features.

How Labial Geyser Erupts

Labial Geyser's eruptions are quite quick, usually lasting less than one minute. The water can shoot up to about 25 feet (7.6 m) (about 7.6 meters) high! You might have to wait a while to see it, as eruptions typically happen every 6 to 9 hours.

Before an eruption, you can see the water level in the geyser's opening (called a vent) rise and fall. In the last few minutes before it erupts, the water starts to surge violently. This surging eventually triggers the big eruption.

During an eruption, three different vents become active. Each one sprays water at a different angle:

• The main Labial vent jets water up to 25 feet (7.6 m) high at a sharp angle.
• Another vent bursts water up to 6 feet (1.8 m) (about 1.8 meters) high.
• A related spring splashes water about 1–2 feet (0.30–0.61 m) (0.3 to 0.6 meters) high.

Sometimes, after the main eruption, Labial Geyser will continue to spray water from its hole. Very rarely, these smaller bursts can even lead to a second or third full eruption shortly after the first one!

Labial's Little Helpers: Satellite Geysers

Labial Geyser has two smaller geysers nearby, called Labial's Satellite Geysers. These "satellite" geysers often react when Labial Geyser erupts. However, they can also have their own eruptions independently. Their eruption times are not easy to predict.

When the satellite geysers have a full eruption, it can last for 12 to 15 minutes. The eastern vent of these satellites usually spouts more water, reaching about 6 feet (1.8 m) high. The western vent can reach even higher, up to 10 feet (3.0 m) (about 3 meters). They also have smaller eruptions, usually from the eastern vent, which last less than a minute and are not as powerful as the full eruptions.