Penta Geyser facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Penta Geyser |
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Penta Geyser in Yellowstone, dry due to Sawmill's current eruption.
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| Name origin | the five vents that it erupts from |
| Location | Upper Geyser Basin, Yellowstone National Park, Teton County, Wyoming |
| Coordinates | 44°27′57″N 110°50′12″W / 44.46583°N 110.83667°W |
| Elevation | 7,336 feet (2,236 m) |
| Type | Cone geyser |
| Eruption height | up to 25 feet (7.6 m) |
| Frequency | up to 2 times a day |
| Duration | 30 minutes - 2 hours |
Penta Geyser is an amazing natural feature located in Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming, United States. You can find it in the Upper Geyser Basin, just a short walk from the path. It sits very close to another geyser called Spasmodic Geyser.
Penta Geyser is known for its unique eruptions, which are connected to other geysers nearby. It's a cone geyser, meaning it builds up a small cone-shaped mound around its opening.
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What Makes Penta Geyser Special?
Penta Geyser gets its name from a very cool feature: it has five different openings, or "vents," where water and steam can erupt! This is quite unusual for a geyser.
Part of the Sawmill Complex
Penta Geyser is part of a group of geysers called the Sawmill Complex. This complex includes other geysers like Sawmill Geyser and Spasmodic Geyser. Because they are so close, the activity of one geyser can affect the others.
The geysers in the Sawmill Complex are like a team. What one does can influence the others. This makes watching them erupt even more exciting!
How Penta Geyser Erupts
Penta Geyser usually starts erupting when the water levels in the Sawmill Complex begin to rise. This often happens after Spasmodic Geyser has started its own eruption. Sometimes, Tardy Geyser might also be active before Penta begins.
Before an eruption, water often gathers around Penta Geyser. This water can even flow towards Sawmill Geyser. It's a delicate balance! Sometimes, even when Penta is ready to erupt, Sawmill Geyser might start instead. If Sawmill erupts, it can cause Penta to drain its water without erupting at all.
Penta Geyser often erupts at the same time as Spasmodic Geyser. Its eruptions usually last for a while, sometimes ending a few minutes after Spasmodic stops. These eruptions are more common when the Sawmill Complex is in a special state called "Penta-Churn" mode. This means the water levels and activity are just right for Penta to erupt.
A Different Name in the Past
Did you know that Penta Geyser used to have a different name? At one time, people called it "the Handsaw." It's interesting how some natural features get new names over time!
