Yellowstone National Park Fact Sheet
The wonders of Yellowstone, the world's first national park, are almost as broad and diverse as the immense area it covers. Yellowstone National Park was designated as such in 1872 by an act of Congress. This article is designed to give a rundown of some of the most interesting and pertinent facts about the park so that you can plan your adventure and prepare yourself for the thrill of nature.
History
On March 1, 1872 Ulysses S. Grant signed into law an act making the area of northwestern Wyoming (and small strips of Idaho and Montana) a protected area. Long recognized as one of the most unique areas on Earth, the area that became the park quickly became one of the most-visited destinations in the country.
Unique park features
While Yellowstone is home to over 290 waterfalls, one of the world's largest petrified forests, dozens of species of wildlife and campsites, it is the geysers that bring most tourists to the park. While Old Faithful is the most popular of the geysers, there are others that have the possibility of eruptions far greater in both quantity of water and height. The Grand Geyser and the Beehive can both erupt higher, up to 200 feet, but only erupt only once or twice per day. Old Faithful averages an eruption every 90 minutes.
The petrified forest
Fossilized wood is a relatively common occurrence all over the rugged west, but in few places are there enough of these fossils and of such immense size that the area is called a "forest." Yellowstone's petrified forest contains thousands of fossilized trunks, branches and roots. It is truly a sight to behold.
The Lower Yellowstone Falls
Standing at a drop of 308 feet, the Lower Yellowstone Falls is the highest of the 290 individual waterfalls throughout the park. To get a closer view of the falls you can take Uncle Tom's Trail all the way up to the falls where you can feel the thunder of the water.
With millions of square miles of forests, rivers, lakes and mountains, Yellowstone National Park is one of the most amazing piece of scenery you can see. The hundreds of geysers, walking trails and waterfalls can amaze even the most cynical of urban jungle dwellers.