Mammoth in Yellowstone National Park in Park County, Wyoming — The American West (Mountains)
Fire – A Fundamental Force
Photographed by Bill Coughlin, July 29, 2015
1. Fire – A Fundamental Force Marker
Like wind, rain, and sunshine, fire is part of the Yellowstone ecosystem.
Plants decompose very slowly in Yellowstone’s cool, dry environment. Fire speeds up this process. Wood and other organic material are turned into ash. Minerals and valuable nutrients the fertilize the soil. Natural fire burn in a patchy pattern – a mosaic. New openings in the forest allow sunlight to reach the ground. Grasses, flowers, shrubs, and seedling trees grow quickly in these sunny, fertile areas.
Erected by National Park Service.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Horticulture & Forestry • Natural Features.
Location. 44° 57.641′ N, 110° 33.971′ W. Marker is in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, in Park County. It is in Mammoth. It can be reached from Upper Grand Loop Road, on the right when traveling west. Marker is located on the Forces of the Northern Range Trail. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Yellowstone National Park WY 82190, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in the Bighorn Basin
this page online
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Seasons of the Range (within shouting distance of this marker); Trembling Aspens (within shouting distance of this marker); The Forest that Needs Fire (within shouting distance of this marker); Wolf Tracks (within shouting distance of this marker); What’s Blooming? (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); A Wildlife Paradise (about 300 feet away); The Land Tells the Story (about 400 feet away); Forces of the Northern Range Self-Guiding Trail (about 500 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Yellowstone National Park.
Photographed by Bill Coughlin, July 29, 2015
2. Fire – A Fundamental Force Marker
Photographed by Bill Coughlin, July 29, 2015
3. Fire – A Fundamental Force Marker
Photographed by Bill Coughlin, July 29, 2015
4. Marker on the Forces of the Northern Range Trail
Photographed by Bill Coughlin, July 29, 2015
5. Northern Range Trail
Marker is located on the Forces of the Northern Range Trail.
Credits. This page was last revised on February 16, 2023. It was originally submitted on September 23, 2015, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. This page has been viewed 389 times since then and 21 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on September 23, 2015, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey.
