Old Faithful facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Old Faithful |
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Eruption of Old Faithful in 1948
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| Name origin | Named by Henry D. Washburn September 18, 1870 |
| Location | Upper Geyser Basin Yellowstone National Park Teton County, Wyoming, U.S. |
| Coordinates | 44°27′38″N 110°49′41″W / 44.46046°N 110.82815°W |
| Elevation | 7,349 ft (2,240 m) |
| Type | Cone geyser |
| Eruption height | 106 to 185 ft (32 to 56 m) |
| Frequency | 60 to 90 minutes |
| Duration | 1½ to 5 minutes |
| Discharge | 3,700–8,400 US gal (14,000–32,000 L) |
Old Faithful is a famous geyser located in Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming, United States. A geyser is a special type of hot spring that shoots out hot water and steam. Old Faithful got its name in 1870 because it erupts very regularly. It was the first geyser in the park to be given a name. This amazing natural feature is very predictable. Since the year 2000, it has erupted about every 44 minutes to two hours. The geyser and the nearby Old Faithful Inn are part of a special historical area.
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History of Old Faithful
On September 18, 1870, a group of explorers called the Washburn-Langford-Doane Expedition traveled through Yellowstone. They were exploring the area and came across Old Faithful. It was the first geyser they saw in the Upper Geyser Basin.
One of the explorers, Nathaniel P. Langford, wrote about their discovery in 1871. He said that the geyser erupted nine times while they were there. The hot water shot up from 90 to 125 feet high. Each eruption lasted for 15 to 20 minutes. Because it was so reliable, they decided to call it "Old Faithful."
In the early days of Yellowstone Park, people sometimes used Old Faithful in a surprising way. They would use it to do their laundry! Clothes placed in the geyser's opening would be ejected clean when it erupted. In 1882, soldiers found that cotton and linen clothes were fine. However, woolen clothes would get torn apart by the powerful water.
How Old Faithful Erupts
Scientists have recorded over 1,000,000 eruptions from Old Faithful. A naturalist named Harry Woodward first found a pattern in its eruptions in 1938. He noticed a link between how long an eruption lasted and how long until the next one.
Old Faithful is not the biggest geyser in Yellowstone. That title belongs to Steamboat Geyser, which is much less predictable. Old Faithful is so reliable because its underground water system is separate. It is not connected to other hot springs or geysers nearby.
Each eruption can shoot out between 3,700 and 8,400 gallons of boiling water. This water can reach heights of 106 to 185 feet. An eruption usually lasts from one and a half to five minutes. The average height of an eruption is about 145 feet.
The time between eruptions can change. It used to be about 66.5 minutes on average in 1939. Now, since 2000, it averages about 90 minutes. This change might be due to earthquakes. Earthquakes can affect the underground water levels. Even with these changes, Old Faithful is still very predictable.
The time between eruptions depends on how long the previous eruption lasted. If an eruption lasts less than two and a half minutes, the next one will be about 65 minutes later. If an eruption lasts longer than two and a half minutes, the next one will be about 91 minutes later. This is usually accurate within about 10 minutes.
Measuring Old Faithful
Between 1983 and 1994, scientists studied Old Faithful closely. They used special tools called probes. These probes had cameras and devices to measure temperature and pressure. They lowered the probes deep into the geyser's opening, down to 72 feet.
At this depth, the water temperature was about 244 degrees Fahrenheit (118 degrees Celsius). This was similar to what was measured in 1942. The video cameras went down to 42 feet. They helped scientists see what happens inside the geyser.
Scientists observed several things. They saw cool air mixing with hot air, creating fog. They also watched how water refilled the geyser's opening. Superheated steam, as hot as 265 degrees Fahrenheit (129 degrees Celsius), was also seen entering the opening.
Images for kids
- Images of Old Faithful Geyser
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Old Faithful Crater, 1872 William Henry Jackson
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From the 1878 U.S. Geological and Geographic Survey of the Territories
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Painting by Albert Bierstadt, circa 1881
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From Observation Point, 2003
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Spectators gathering to watch the geyser at Yellowstone National Park, 2019
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On rare occasions at the right point, Beehive (seen in the distance) will synchronize eruptions with the larger nearby Old Faithful
See also
In Spanish: Old Faithful para niños
- Strokkur, another naturally-occurring geyser known for erupting frequently and predictably.
