G R A N D
P R I S M AT I C
S P R I N G
Wyoming, United States
Old Faithful isn't the only natural beauty
turning heads in Yellowstone National
Park. At 370 feet in diameter—bigger
than a football field—the Grand Prismatic
Spring is the third-largest hot spring in
the world. The steaming-hot water comes
from a crack in the Earth over 121 feet
below the surface, and produces such
extreme heat that almost nothing can
sustain it.
It's more than huge and scientifically
fascinating; it's incredible to see. Thanks
to the thermophile (or heat-loving)
bacteria in the water around the spring,
the deep blue center is surrounded
by technicolored bands of vivid green,
orange, and yellow. Most vibrant between
May and September, the rainbow marvel
is one of the country's iconic wonders
and nature's greatest gifts.
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