Pump Geyser facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Pump Geyser
Pump geyser
Name origin	Named by Frank Jay Haynes, official park photographer (1883-1916)
Location	Upper Geyser Basin, Yellowstone National Park, Teton County, Wyoming
Coordinates	44°27′50″N 110°49′46″W / 44.4637787°N 110.8294868°W / 44.4637787; -110.8294868
Elevation	7,369 feet (2,246 m)
Type	Cone-type geyser
Eruption height	2-15 feet
Frequency	Near constant
Duration	Near constant
Discharge	Small
Temperature	86.1 °C (187.0 °F)
Depth	a ~2ft deep crater, with a vent inside.

Pump Geyser is a special kind of geyser found in the Upper Geyser Basin of Yellowstone National Park. It's part of an area called Geyser Hill, which has many other famous geysers like Beehive Geyser and Giantess Geyser.

Pump Geyser is known for erupting almost all the time. It's like a small, natural water pump!

How Pump Geyser Erupts

Pump Geyser usually makes small splashes, about 2 to 3 feet high. It also makes thumping sounds very often. Sometimes, it has quieter moments, but it's rarely completely still.

Around 1990, Pump Geyser started acting more like a "true" geyser. This means it began to have clear eruption cycles. First, a small boil of water builds up. Then, the water domes, or rises in a big bubble, before bursting. These bursts can spray water up to 15 feet high! After a few seconds, the activity slows down to a gentle simmer. Then, after a short pause, the whole cycle starts again.

Why is it Called Pump Geyser?

The geyser was most likely named by Frank Jay Haynes. He was the official photographer for Yellowstone National Park from 1883 to 1916.

Pump Geyser gets its name because its constant eruptions sound a lot like an old-fashioned mechanical pump. It's also possible that people confused it with another geyser named "Pump" that no longer erupts.

Is Pump Geyser Connected to Other Geysers?

Scientists think Pump Geyser might be connected to another nearby geyser called Sponge Geyser. This connection has not been fully proven yet.

When Sponge Geyser is filling up with water, Pump Geyser becomes strangely quiet. Then, when Sponge Geyser drains its water, Pump Geyser starts spurting again after a few seconds. Even though this connection seems very likely, it needs more study to be certain.

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