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Behold the Beautiful Bacteria of The Morning Glory Pool in Yellowstone National Park

Published by Jason Hussong, Writer

Country: United States

The Experience

There's so much to see and do in Yellowstone National Park, which is bigger than the states of Delaware or Rhode Island, that it would be easy to spend a week there and still not see it all. If you don't have a week, then some of the best experiences can be found in the Upper Geyser Basin in the southwest corner of the Park. All of the geysers, pools and wildlife make it a truly unique place to visit. One of the more popular sites in Yellowstone is the Morning Glory Pool, which sits at the end of a boardwalk trail that easily meanders throughout the geyser basin.

The trail to the Morning Glory Pool begins near the parking and lodging area for the famous Old Faithful geyser. Several other geysers and pools line the trail as well as a lush forest. Occasionally wildlife, which can be found in abundance throughout the park, will surprise you and make an appearance on the trail, thus offering great photo opportunities. And with vibrant colours of blue, orange and yellow, the trail ends at the beautiful Morning Glory Pool—a favorite of most Yellowstone Park visitors.

Mrs. E. N. McGowan, wife of the Assistant Park Superintendent, named the Morning Glory Pool in 1883 due to the striking similarity it holds to the morning glory flower. The beautiful blue and orange colours in the Pool are due to bacteria that live in the water. Unfortunately, littering by tourists is causing the Morning Glory Pool to lose its beauty as junk clogs the Pool vents and thus limits the water that flows into it. The hotter water in the bottom once prevented the yellow and orange microorganisms from living so far down, but now because of the pollution they are able to spread and thus change the appearance of the Pool. Due to this disregard, the Morning Glory Pool should be considered an essential visit as soon as possible.

Yellowstone National Park can also experience seismic activity at any time due to the fault lines that run under it. These lines helped shape the Park and its beautiful scenery and interesting geological sites, making Yellowstone one of the quintessential family road trip options for Americans. Although it's an incredibly rare occasion, these active faults can cause the Morning Glory Pool to erupt like a geyser. Don't count on seeing a pool eruption though, as this is not at all common but more likely a fortunate and amazing experience that can be had if you're lucky.

The Morning Glory Pool in the Upper Geyser Basin is an area of unique beauty and wonderful opportunities that should be a headline of any trip to America's first national park. Yellowstone National Park has so many great experiences, just like this one, that are waiting to be discovered. Make sure to give yourself plenty of time to explore the vast Park. You won't regret it; I know I didn't!

Photos

Map

Puzzle

When to Go to Morning Glory Pool

Yellowstone National Park can experience extremes in weather conditions. The summer may be crowded and hot, and the winter tends to be snowy and cold, but each time can add to the beauty and enjoyment of the occasion. The beauty of the Morning Glory Pool won't be lessened though based on the season of your visit, so anytime is the best time to go to Yellowstone National Park and the geyser basin area near Old Faithful (where the Morning Glory Pool can be found).

Odds n' Ends

Yellowstone National Park is an open area where wildlife roam free; and as such, it is possible to have very close encounters with different animals. Make sure to follow the Park guidelines in regards to wildlife, and always give them plenty of space, keeping in mind that it is always best to tend towards the side of caution. Bison are particularly plentiful in Yellowstone National Park and are commonly seen in the geyser basin area. They can be very dangerous, so do not approach them if at all possible.

Restrooms are also not available on the trail, so make sure to hit up one of the lodges before heading out on the trail. Time can go by fast out there as you take in the beautiful geysers and pools, and it's no fun to have to make a mile-long sprint back somewhere if you have to “go.”

Places to Eat

National Park Restaurants
All restaurants are operated through the National Park Service. They generally tend to be in the style of fast food or cafeteria restaurants. All three lodges by the Morning Glory pool have restaurants in them. Other areas of the park are easily within driving distance and have similar restaurant experiences.

Recommended Places to Stay

National Park Loding
There are three lodges within walking distance of the Morning Glory pool. They are the Old Faithful Inn, the Old Faithful Lodge, and the Snow Lodge. Other available camping sites, cabins and lodges are within a short drive from Morning Glory and the geyser basin and each is near another enjoyable feature of the national park. All camping and lodging facilities are operated through the National Park Service.

More Experiences Nearby

Get a Gush of a Rush at Old Faithful Geyser in Yellowstone National Park
The Old Faithful geyser is the quintessential Yellowstone National Park experience. It sits at the head of the Upper Geyser Basin, which is home to the majority of the geysers in the Park. Yellowstone on the whole holds more than 60 percent of the geysers in the world, but none more famous than Old Faithful. The Old Faithful geyser, named during an expedition in 1870, shows off the power of nature every 65 to 90 minutes, depending on the length of the previous eruption. An eruption can shoot up to 8,400 gallons (32,000 litres) of water 185 feet (56 metres) ...1 miles away.

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Books and DVDs

Yellowstone & Grand Teton National Parks
Yellowstone: Battle for Life [Blu-ray] (2009)
Yellowstone Treasures: The Traveler's Companion to the National Park

Elsewhere on the Web

Yellowstone National Park Official Site - NPS.gov
Yellowstone Interactive Map - NPS.gov
Yellowstone Thermal Features - RCN.montana.edu

Media References

Yellowstone National Park Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho - NationalGeographic.com (magazine)
When Yellowstone Explodes - NationalGeographic.com (magazine)
Yellowstone National Park - NationalGeographic.com (magazine)
June/July 2009America's Ultimate Parks 2009: Yellowstone - NationalGeographic.com (magazine)

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