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Deb Borofka

Yellowstone National Park



RWC tutor Leslie Rivera gives the history of Yellowstone National Park.


There are 63 national parks in the United States and one of the most well-known parks is Yellowstone National Park. Yellowstone was the first U.S. national park founded on March 1, 1872, by President Ulysses S. Grant. Before this, the land was inhabited by various tribes, like the Cheyanne, Crow, Blackfeet, and many others. The park spans 3,500 miles (about 5632.7 km) and is on top of a dormant volcano. Yellowstone has many geysers and hot springs because it is on top of a volcano. One of the most famous geysers is the Old Faithful Geyser. This geyser erupts about 20 times daily, with eruptions lasting between 1.5 to 4.5 minutes.


There is also the Upper Geyser Basin, which boasts hot springs full of vibrant colors. Yellowstone is also home to wildlife such as golden eagles, wolverines, pronghorns, and wolves. An ideal spot to watch wildlife is the Lamar Valley, where one can glimpse some bison. There were no wolves in Yellowstone for a while, having been eradicated in the 1920s. This resulted in the ecosystem falling out of balance as prey animal populations exploded. They were reintroduced to the area in 1995 and now have a stable population. Yellowstone has several activities, such as rock climbing, fishing, horseback riding, and hiking.


*Make sure you maintain proper distance from wildlife to avoid serious injury

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