Sawmill Geyser facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Sawmill Geyser
Sawmill erupting
Name origin	Named by Antoine Schoenborn during the 1871 Hayden Survey
Location	Upper Geyser Basin, Yellowstone National Park, Teton County, Wyoming
Coordinates	44°27′56″N 110°50′12″W / 44.465553°N 110.836618°W / 44.465553; -110.836618
Type	Fountain geyser
Eruption height	up to 35 feet (11 m)
Frequency	1 - 3 hours
Duration	30 - 50 mins
Temperature	92 °C (198 °F)
Sawmill Geyser location in southern portion of Upper Geyser Basin.

Sawmill Geyser is a famous geyser found in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, United States. It got its name because of the whirring sound it makes when it erupts, like a sawmill. Antoine Schoenborn from the Hayden Geological Survey of 1871 gave it this unique name.

Sawmill Geyser is the biggest geyser in a group called the Sawmill Complex. This area has many hot springs and geysers. It's located in the Upper Geyser Basin, just a short walk from the main path.

How Sawmill Geyser Works

Sawmill Geyser doesn't erupt on a strict schedule. This is because many geysers in the Sawmill Complex are connected underground. They share water and heat, which makes their eruptions a bit unpredictable.

Eruption Schedule

Even though it's irregular, Sawmill Geyser usually erupts every 1 to 3 hours. It often erupts after another nearby geyser called Spasmodic Geyser. However, this only happens if Penta Geyser, another important geyser in the complex, doesn't erupt first.

If Penta Geyser erupts before Sawmill, it uses up the water Sawmill needs. Then, Sawmill has to wait for the underground water system to refill. This refilling is often signaled by an eruption from Spasmodic Geyser.

Signs of an Eruption

There are a few ways to tell if Sawmill Geyser is about to erupt. One sign is when the geyser's pool fills up with water and starts to overflow. You might also see bubbles rising to the surface. These bubbles mean an eruption is coming soon!

After Sawmill Geyser erupts, its pool drains. If it had a very big eruption, it can sometimes affect how other geysers in the area behave.

Recent Activity

Sawmill Geyser used to erupt very often. But in early 2017, it suddenly stopped. The last time it was seen erupting was on January 29, 2017. Scientists and park rangers keep watching it, hoping it will become active again.

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