Yellowstone National Park in Teton County, Wyoming — The American West (Mountains)

Grand Prismatic Spring: Prism of Light, Spectrum of Life

Photographed By Bernard Fisher, July 25, 2011

1. Grand Prismatic Spring: Prism of Light, Spectrum of Life Marker

Inscription. Grand Prismatic Spring is the largest and one of the most brilliant of Yellowstone’s many colorful hot springs. It massive expanse stretches approximately 200 feet (61m) across. The high temperature of its water—°160 (70°C)—ensures that the spring is often cloaked in steam.

Deep beneath us, magma from an active volcano heats water that rises to the surface through fissures in the rocks. The result is a hot spring that pours almost 500 gallons of hot water each minute into the Firehole River. Minerals dissolved in the hot water are deposited and gradually build the gracefully terraced shoulders of this feature.

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Did You Know?

• Prismatic means brilliantly colored.
• The intense blue color in the center of this hot spring is due to sunlight being scattered by fine particles suspended in the water.
• The yellow, orange, and brown colors encircling the hot spring and lining the runoff channels are caused by thermophiles—heat-loving microorganisms. These microbes contain colorful pigments that allow them to make energy from sunlight and thrive in the harsh conditions of hot springs.

This exhibit made possible by a generous grant to the Yellowstone Park Foundation

Erected by Yellowstone

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Park Foundation.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Natural Features.

Location. 44° 31.545′ N, 110° 50.294′ W. Marker is in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, in Teton County. Marker can be reached from Grand Loop Road (U.S. 89) one mile south of Firehole Lake Drive, on the right when traveling south. Located in the Midway Geyser Basin. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Moran WY 83013, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Life on the Edge (here, next to this marker); Excelsior Geyser (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Buried Alive (about 400 feet away); White Dome Geyser (approx. 2 miles away); Fountain Paint Pot (approx. 2.3 miles away); a different marker also named Fountain Paint Pot (approx. 2.3 miles away); Earthquake’s Offspring (approx. 2.4 miles away); Murky Past . . . Promising Future (approx. 2.9 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Yellowstone National Park.

More about this marker. On the lower right are two photos with the caption, "Billions of thread-like filaments and sausage-shaped cells (left) of the thermophillic cyanobacteria Phormidium (for-MID-e-um) and Synechococcus (sin-e-ka-KAK-us) and Calothrix (KAL-o-thrix; right) build

Grand Prismatic Spring Markers image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Bernard Fisher, July 25, 2011

2. Grand Prismatic Spring Markers

colorful orange and brown mats lining the runoff channels from Grand Prismatic Spring."

Also see . . . Yellowstone National Park. National Park Service (Submitted on July 31, 2011.)

Grand Prismatic Spring image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Bernard Fisher, July 25, 2011

3. Grand Prismatic Spring

Photographed By Dan Fisher, July 24, 2011

4. Grand Prismatic Spring

Credits. This page was last revised on November 14, 2021. It was originally submitted on July 31, 2011, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia. This page has been viewed 1,204 times since then and 30 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on July 31, 2011, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia.