Hubbry Logo
Yellowstone LakeYellowstone LakeMain
Open search
Yellowstone Lake
Community hub
Yellowstone Lake
logo
8 pages, 0 posts
0 subscribers
Be the first to start a discussion here.
Be the first to start a discussion here.
Yellowstone Lake
Yellowstone Lake
Yellowstone Lake
View on Wikipedia
from Wikipedia

Yellowstone Lake is the largest body of water in Wyoming and the largest in Yellowstone National Park. The lake is 7,732 feet (2,357 m) above sea level and covers 136 square miles (350 km2) with 110 miles (180 km) of shoreline. While the average depth of the lake is 139 ft (42 m), its greatest depth is at least 394 ft (120 m).[1] Yellowstone Lake is the largest freshwater lake above 7,000 ft (2,100 m) in North America.[2]

Key Information

In winter, ice nearly 3 ft (0.91 m) thick covers much of the lake except where shallow water covers hot springs. The lake freezes over by early December and can remain frozen until late May or early June.

History

[edit]

The forest and valleys surrounding Yellowstone Lake have been regularly visited by Native Americans for thousands of years. Various Native cultures hunted bison and bighorn sheep, fished for cutthroat trout, and gathered bitterroot and camas bulbs, since at least 9000 BC. Around 7300 BC, the Cody people camped on the eastern side of Yellowstone Lake during the summers, fishing and boating on the lake, hunting bear, deer, and bison, and obtaining obsidian from Obsidian Cliff.[3] The only Native American pottery found in within present-day Yellowstone National Park was on the western side of Yellowstone Lake, close to the present-day Pumice Point Picnic Area, and dates to 500-1500 AD. It has been linked to the Shoshone tribe.[4]

The first human of European descent known to see the lake is trapper John Colter in the early 19th century. During the fur trading era of 1820–1840, the lake was probably visited by many trapping parties moving through the park region. In trapper Osborne Russell's diary, he describes a visit to the lake in 1836 as follows:

16th [August] -Mr. Bridger came up with the remainder of the party. 18th-The whole camp moved down the east shore of the lake through thick pines and fallen timber about eighteen miles and encamped in a small prairie. 19th-continued down the shore to the outlet about twenty miles, and encamped in a beautiful plain { Hayden Valley } which extended along the northern extremity of the lake. This valley was interspersed with scattering groves of tall pines, forming shady retreats for the numerous elk and deer during the heat of the day. The lake is about 100 miles in circumference, bordered on the east by high ranges of mountains whose spurs terminate at the shore and on the west by a low bed of piney mountains. Its greatest width is about fifteen miles, lying in an oblong from south to north, or rather in the shape of a crescent. Near where we encamped were several hot springs which boiled perpetually. Near these was an opening in the ground about eight inches in diameter from which hot steam issued continually with a noise similar to that made by the steam issuing from the safety valve of an engine, and could be heard five or six miles distant.[5]

Name

[edit]

The lake has been known by various names as depicted on early maps and in journals. Both fur trader David Thompson and explorer William Clark referred to the lake as Yellow Stone. Osborne Russell referred to the lake as Yellow Stone Lake in his 1834 journal. On some William Clark maps, the lake has the name Eustis Lake and the name Sublette's Lake was also used to name the lake in the early 19th century. The name Yellowstone Lake appears formally first in the 1839 maps of the Oregon Territory by U.S. Army topographical engineer, Captain Washington Hood and has remained so since that time.[6][7]

Pre-park era exploration

[edit]

Although many prospecting parties traversed the Yellowstone region throughout the 1850–60s, the first detailed descriptions of the lake came in 1869, 1870 and 1871 as a result of the Cook–Folsom–Peterson Expedition, the Washburn-Langford-Doane Expedition and the Hayden Geological Survey of 1871.

Cook, Folsom and Peterson first encountered the lake near Pelican Creek 44°33′12″N 110°21′37″W / 44.55333°N 110.36028°W / 44.55333; -110.36028 (Pelican Creek) as they moved south along the Yellowstone River on September 24, 1869. They eventually followed the western shoreline to West Thumb before moving west to the geyser basins. Cook described the lake at Pelican Creek as follows:

The main body is ten miles long from east to west and sixteen miles long from north to south, but at the south end it puts out two arms, one to the southeast and the other to the southwest, making the entire length about 30 miles ... There are three small islands which are also heavily timbered ... The shallow water in some of the coves affords feeding ground for thousands of water fowl and we can take our choice of ducks, geese, trout, pelican or swan.[8]

An original map of Yellowstone Lake from the Washburn, Doane, and Langford Expedition of 1870[9]

The Washburn party was the first to describe the remote eastern and southern shorelines of the lake. From September 3, 1870, to September 17, 1870, the Washburn party traveled from the outlet of the lake around the northern, eastern, and southern shorelines to West Thumb 44°25′40″N 110°31′57″W / 44.42778°N 110.53250°W / 44.42778; -110.53250 (West Thumb). The September 4, 1870 journal entry of Lieutenant Gustavus C. Doane, the leader of the U.S. Army escort during the expedition, describes the lake as follows:

On the south side, these promontories project far into the lake in great numbers, dividing it into bays and channels. On the west side is a low bluff of the timbered ridges, with a sand beach in front along the margins of the waters. The greatest width of open water in any direction is about eighteen miles. Several islands are seen, one of which is opposite the channel of the river and five miles from the east shore; another is ten miles farther south, and two miles from the shore a mountain isle with a bold bluff all around to the water's edge. These islands doubtless have never been trodden by human footsteps, and still belong to the regions of the unexplored. We built a raft for the purpose of attempting to visit them, but the strong waves of the lake dashed it to pieces in an hour. Numerous steam jets pour out from the bluffs on the shore at different points. The waters of the lake reflect a deep blue color, are clear as crystal, and doubtless of great depth near the center. The extreme elevation of this great body of water, 7,714 3/5 feet, is difficult to realize. Place Mount Washington, the pride of New England, with its base at the sea level, at the bottom of the lake, and the clear waters of the latter would roll 2,214 feet above its summit. With the single exception of Lake Titticaeca, Peru, it is the highest great body of water on the globe. No shells of any description are found on the lake shore, nor is there any evidence of the waters ever having stood at a much higher level than the present. Twenty-five feet will cover the whole range of the water-marks. Its annual rise and falls are about two feet. Its waters abound with trout to such an extent that the fish at this season are in poor condition, for want of food. No other fish are seen; no minnows, and no small trout. There are also no clams, crabs, nor turtles -- nothing but full-grown trout. These could be caught in mule loads by wading out a few feet in the open waters at any point with a grasshopper bait. Two men could catch them faster than half a dozen could clean and get them ready for the frying pan. Caught in the open lake, their flesh was yellow; but in bays, where the water was strongly impregnated with chemicals, it was blood-red. Many of them were full of long white worms, woven across the interior of the body, and through to the skin on either side. These did not appear to materially affect the condition of the fish, which were apparently as active as the others.[10]

A July 28, 1871 photo of Annie, the boat used by the Hayden Geological Survey of 1871

The Hayden Geological Survey of 1871 provided the most detailed and scientific descriptions of the lake in the pre-park era. The Hayden party, 34 men in all, encountered the lake at the outlet on July 28, 1871, spending two days there and returned to the lake at West Thumb on August 7, 1871. From West Thumb, the survey party took 15 days to explore the southern and eastern flanks of the lake. On July 28, 1871, they launched Annie, the first European boat ever to sail on the lake and began exploring the islands and shoreline. Additionally, the first ever photographs of the lake were taken during this expedition by William Henry Jackson.

In correspondence that was Hayden's Report No. 7 to Assistant Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, Dr. Spencer Baird, a bit of which is excerpted below, Dr. Ferdinand V. Hayden described some of the explorations being conducted on the lake as follows:

Yellowstone Lake, WY August 8th, 1871 - Dear Professor Baird, Your letters of June 6th and July 3rd were brought us from Fort Ellis by Lt. Doane who has just arrived to take command of our escort and accompany my party the remainder of the season ... We arrived at the banks of the Yellow Stone Lake [sic] July 26th [actually July 28] and pitched our camp near the point where the river leaves the Lake. Hence we brought the first pair of wheels that ever came to the Lake with our Odometer. We launched the first Boat on the Lake, 4.5 feet wide and 11 feet long, with sails and oars ... A chart of this soundings will be made. Points have been located with a prismatic compass all around the Lake. A man stands on the shore with a compass and takes a bearing to the man in the Boat as he drops the lead, giving a signal at the time. Then a man in the Boat takes a bearing to the fixed point on the shore where the first man is located and thus the soundings will be located on the chart. Henry Elliot and Mr. Carrington have just left in our little boat, the Annie. [They] will make a systematic sketch of the shore with all its indentations, with the banks down, indeed, making a complete topographical as well as a pictorial sketch of the shores as seen from the water, for a circuit--of at least 130 miles ... One of the islands has been explored. We have called it Stevenson's Island as he was undoubtedly the first human that ever set foot upon it ... Write at once. Yours Truly, F. V. Hayden, I will send you some Photographs soon.[11]

Proposals to dam the lake

[edit]

Between 1920 and 1937, multiple proposals were made to Congress and the Department of the Interior to construct dams of various sizes at the Yellowstone Lake outlet or a few miles downstream. Montana and Wyoming politicians, the Army Corps of Engineers and lobbying groups in both states all had a variety of reasons to support the dams—flood control in the Yellowstone Valley, reclamation, or diversion of water over the continental divide to the Snake River. All the proposals and legislation were eventually defeated.[12]

Geology

[edit]
Panorama of the West Thumb area of Yellowstone Lake in 2018

In the southwest area of the lake, the West Thumb Geyser Basin is easily accessible to visitors. Geysers, fumaroles, and hot springs are found both alongside and in the lake.

As of 2004, the ground under the lake has started to rise significantly, indicating increased geological activity, and limited areas of the national park have been closed to the public. As of 2005, no areas are currently off limits aside from those normally allowing limited access such as around the West Thumb Geyser Basin. There is a "bulge" about 2,000 ft (610 m) long and 100 ft (30 m) high under a section of Yellowstone Lake, where there are a variety of faults, hot springs and small craters. Seismic imaging has recently shown that sediment layers are tilted, but how old this feature is has not yet been established.

After the magma chamber under the Yellowstone area collapsed 640,000 years ago in its previous great eruption, it formed a large caldera that was later partially filled by subsequent lava flows (see Yellowstone Caldera). Part of this caldera is the 136 sq mi (350 km2) basin of Yellowstone Lake. The original lake was 200 ft (61 m) higher than the present-day lake, extending northward across Hayden Valley to the base of Mount Washburn.

It is thought that Yellowstone Lake originally drained south into the Pacific Ocean via the Snake River. The lake currently drains north from its only outlet, the Yellowstone River, at Fishing Bridge. The elevation of the lake's north end does not drop substantially until LeHardy Rapids. Therefore, this spot is considered the actual northern boundary of Yellowstone Lake. Within a short distance downstream the Yellowstone River plunges first over the upper and then the lower falls and races north through the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone.

In the 1990s, geological research determined that the two volcanic vents, now known as "resurgent domes", are rising again. From year to year, they either rise or fall, with an average net uplift of about one inch per year. During the period between 1923 and 1985, the Sour Creek Dome was rising. In the years since 1986, it has either declined or remained the same. The resurgence of the Sour Creek dome, just north of Fishing Bridge is causing Yellowstone Lake to "tilt" southward. Larger sandy beaches can now be found on the north shore of the lake, and flooded areas can be found in the southern arms.[13]

The Hayden Valley was once filled by an arm of Yellowstone Lake. As a result, it contains fine-grained lake sediments that are now covered with glacial till left from the most recent glacial retreat 13,000 years ago. Because the glacial till contains many different grain sizes, including clay and a thin layer of lake sediments, water cannot percolate readily into the ground. This is why the Hayden Valley is marshy and has little encroachment of trees.

Ecology

[edit]

Fish

[edit]

Non-native lake trout were discovered in Yellowstone Lake in 1994,[14] and were believed to have been either accidentally or intentionally introduced as early as 1989 with fish taken from Lewis Lake. The introduction of Lake trout has caused a serious decline in the cutthroat trout population and the National Park Service has an aggressive Lake trout eradication program on the lake.[15] All lake trout caught by anglers must be killed.[16] If the cutthroat trout isn’t protected from this invasive fish then ecologist predict that they could see a decline in surrounding birds and mammals that are natural predators to the cutthroat trout.[17] The longnose sucker is an invasive fish that was believed to be introduced into the Yellowstone Lake in the late 1980s or early 1990s. With this foreign species in the Lake researchers have noticed a shift in the food chain. They have seen a rapid decline in the population of the cutthroat trout which in turn could cause other animal populations to start declining. One study found that the introduced longnose sucker competes with cutthroat trout for some of the same food sources.[18]

The declining population of cutthroat trout in the Yellowstone Lake can negatively impact fish predators. One in particular is the North American river otter which relies on the cutthroat fish as a prey. With a declining number of cutthroat trout in the spawning streams researchers saw a shift in the relationship between terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems that are linked together. [19]

Other animals

[edit]

Yellowstone is home to a large concentration of mammals. Whether that be large mammals such as bison, elk, or bighorn sheep there is a variety of different animals that are native to the Yellowstone area. On the other hand Yellowstone is also home to many smaller animals, and a few that are constantly around the lake are beavers, short tailed weasels, and river otters which have previously been mentioned.[20]

Climate

[edit]

Yellowstone Lake has a subarctic climate (Köppen Dfc).

Climate data for Yellowstone Lake, Wyoming, 1991–2020 normals, 1998–2024 extremes: 7835ft (2388m)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °F (°C) 42
(6) 		55
(13) 		57
(14) 		65
(18) 		78
(26) 		83
(28) 		86
(30) 		86
(30) 		83
(28) 		74
(23) 		57
(14) 		46
(8) 		86
(30)
Mean maximum °F (°C) 35.0
(1.7) 		39.1
(3.9) 		48.5
(9.2) 		56.6
(13.7) 		67.1
(19.5) 		77.0
(25.0) 		82.5
(28.1) 		81.0
(27.2) 		75.8
(24.3) 		62.5
(16.9) 		48.3
(9.1) 		36.3
(2.4) 		81.0
(27.2)
Mean daily maximum °F (°C) 23.0
(−5.0) 		26.1
(−3.3) 		34.7
(1.5) 		40.9
(4.9) 		50.6
(10.3) 		61.1
(16.2) 		72.2
(22.3) 		70.7
(21.5) 		60.5
(15.8) 		45.5
(7.5) 		32.0
(0.0) 		23.3
(−4.8) 		45.0
(7.2)
Daily mean °F (°C) 12.0
(−11.1) 		13.5
(−10.3) 		21.2
(−6.0) 		28.7
(−1.8) 		38.4
(3.6) 		47.0
(8.3) 		55.5
(13.1) 		53.9
(12.2) 		45.4
(7.4) 		33.6
(0.9) 		21.5
(−5.8) 		13.0
(−10.6) 		32.0
(0.0)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C) 1.0
(−17.2) 		0.9
(−17.3) 		7.7
(−13.5) 		16.6
(−8.6) 		26.3
(−3.2) 		33.0
(0.6) 		38.7
(3.7) 		37.0
(2.8) 		30.3
(−0.9) 		21.8
(−5.7) 		11.0
(−11.7) 		2.7
(−16.3) 		18.9
(−7.3)
Mean minimum °F (°C) −22.0
(−30.0) 		−25.3
(−31.8) 		−15.2
(−26.2) 		−4.4
(−20.2) 		13.3
(−10.4) 		25.4
(−3.7) 		32.4
(0.2) 		29.5
(−1.4) 		22.2
(−5.4) 		6.2
(−14.3) 		−8.9
(−22.7) 		−20.0
(−28.9) 		−30.7
(−34.8)
Record low °F (°C) −42
(−41) 		−38
(−39) 		−34
(−37) 		−18
(−28) 		0
(−18) 		21
(−6) 		27
(−3) 		25
(−4) 		13
(−11) 		−16
(−27) 		−23
(−31) 		−36
(−38) 		−42
(−41)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 1.80
(46) 		1.70
(43) 		1.90
(48) 		2.28
(58) 		2.35
(60) 		2.38
(60) 		1.51
(38) 		1.34
(34) 		1.57
(40) 		1.85
(47) 		2.06
(52) 		2.35
(60) 		23.09
(586)
Average snowfall inches (cm) 35.8
(91) 		30.9
(78) 		25.1
(64) 		22.9
(58) 		6.9
(18) 		1.0
(2.5) 		0.0
(0.0) 		0.0
(0.0) 		1.4
(3.6) 		10.2
(26) 		29.8
(76) 		35.4
(90) 		199.4
(507.1)
Average extreme snow depth inches (cm) 37
(94) 		45
(110) 		48
(120) 		43
(110) 		22
(56) 		1
(2.5) 		0
(0) 		0
(0) 		1
(2.5) 		4
(10) 		13
(33) 		26
(66) 		50
(130)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) 16.1 14.3 16.4 15.8 14.9 12.3 9.5 9.4 9.1 13.3 13.0 16.1 160.2
Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in) 16.3 14.4 12.3 10.2 4.3 0.8 0.0 0.0 0.8 5.5 11.8 15.4 91.8
Source 1: NOAA[21][22]
Source 2: XMACIS2 (records, monthly max/mins & 1991-2020 snow depth)[23]

Angling and boating

[edit]
An 1897 photo of anglers at West Thumb Geyser Basin on the western shore of Yellowstone Lake

Angling for Yellowstone cutthroat trout in Yellowstone Lake has been a popular pastime for both subsistence and recreation since the first explorers, surveyors and tourists visited the park. During the early days of fish stocking in Yellowstone (1890–1910), Atlantic Salmon, Mountain whitefish, and Rainbow trout were stocked in the lake; none of these introduced species survived.[24] Today only native cutthroat and non-native lake trout and Longnose sucker exist in the lake.[25] Today, Yellowstone Lake is open for angling during the entire Yellowstone angling season (Memorial Day weekend thru Oct 31). All Cutthroat trout caught must be released.

Recreational boating has been permitted on the lake in various forms since 1890 when the first permits for the Yellowstone Boat Company were issued to operate a ferry across the lake between road junctions.[26] Today, powerboats, sailboats, canoes and kayaks are allowed on the lake with a Yellowstone Boating Permit. A Marina is operated at Bridge Bay and there is a boat ramp at Grant Village on the West Thumb. Areas in the southern arms of the lake are speed-restricted and/or no-motor zones to protect sensitive wildlife areas. Access to some of the lake's islands is also restricted.[27] Xanterra Parks and Resorts at Bridge Bay Marina on Yellowstone Lake provides boat rentals and other boating services. Numerous outfitters operating outside the park are licensed to provide boating services in the park. Several dozen backcountry campsites line the southern shoreline that is accessible only by boat. Two major hiking trails provide access to the lake shore away from the major road. The Nine Mile Post trail hugs the eastern shoreline into the Thorofare region and intersects with the Trail Creek and Heart Lake trails that touch the ends of both the south and southeast arms of the lake.[28]

Images of Yellowstone Lake
  • Yellowstone Lake's outlet (1871)
    Yellowstone Lake's outlet (1871)
  • The southwest arm of Yellowstone Lake looking north (1871)
    The southwest arm of Yellowstone Lake looking north (1871)
  • The eastern shoreline of Yellowstone Lake (1878)
    The eastern shoreline of Yellowstone Lake (1878)
  • A photo of boats on Yellowstone Lake by F. Jay Haynes
    A photo of boats on Yellowstone Lake by F. Jay Haynes
  • A scenic photo of Yellowstone Lake by Ansel Adams (1942)
    A scenic photo of Yellowstone Lake by Ansel Adams (1942)
  • Yellowstone Lake as seen from Two Ocean Plateau looking north (1963)
    Yellowstone Lake as seen from Two Ocean Plateau looking north (1963)
  • Yellowstone Lake Hotel as seen from Yellowstone Lake
    Yellowstone Lake Hotel as seen from Yellowstone Lake
  • A rainbow hanging over Yellowstone Lake
    A rainbow hanging over Yellowstone Lake
  • Yellowstone Lake on a stormy day
    Yellowstone Lake on a stormy day
  • Yellowstone Lake at dawn
    Yellowstone Lake at dawn

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Yellowstone Lake

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia

Yellowstone Lake is a large freshwater body located at 7,733 feet (2,357 meters) above sea level within in , , and constitutes the largest high-elevation lake in above 7,000 feet (2,134 meters). It spans approximately 341 square kilometers (132 square miles), reaches a maximum depth of 410 feet (125 meters), and holds an estimated 12,095,264 acre-feet of water. The lake's irregular shape includes several arms and bays, with its outlet forming the headwaters of the . Geologically, Yellowstone Lake occupies a basin shaped by the interplay of volcanic lava flows within the , glacial erosion, and recurrent hydrothermal explosions over the past 14,000 years, resulting in a dynamic seafloor marked by over 660 hydrothermal vents and large explosion craters up to 2,500 meters in diameter. These features underscore the lake's position atop an active volcanic system, where subsurface heat drives extensive geothermal activity, including submarine hot springs and geysers. Ecologically, the lake sustains North America's largest population of wild , a integral to the park's , though this native fishery faces ongoing disruption from invasive , prompting sustained management efforts to restore balance. The lake's pristine aquatic environment, combined with its scenic and scientific value, draws researchers studying volcanic-tectonic interactions and serves as a focal point for conservation amid broader ecosystem dynamics in the Greater Yellowstone region.

Physical Characteristics

Location and Dimensions


Yellowstone Lake occupies the central region of Yellowstone National Park in northwestern Wyoming, United States, primarily within Teton County, at approximate coordinates 44°25′N 110°25′W. The lake lies at an elevation of 7,733 feet (2,357 m) above sea level, positioning it as North America's largest body of water exceeding 7,000 feet (2,134 m) in elevation. The lake spans a surface area of 131.7 to 139 square miles (341 to 360 km²), varying with seasonal levels, and measures roughly 20 miles (32 km) in maximum by 14 miles (23 km) in maximum width. It possesses 141 miles (227 km) of irregular shoreline, shaped by volcanic terrain and glacial influences. The average depth stands at 138 feet (42 m), with a recorded maximum depth of 430 feet (131 m) in its deepest basin.

Hydrology and Water Balance

Yellowstone Lake receives inflows primarily from over 140 rivers and streams draining a exceeding 2,500 km², dominated by from surrounding highlands, supplemented by direct on the lake surface and minor sublacustrine hydrothermal inputs. The principal tributaries include the Lewis River from the south and smaller streams from the east and west arms, with annual stream inflows varying significantly from 0.67 km³ in low-flow years like 1998 to 3.6 km³ in high-flow years like 1999. The sole outflow occurs via the at the northern Fishing Bridge outlet, with long-term mean annual discharge of 1.19 ± 0.29 km³, representing approximately 59% of total annual flow during the – peak period based on 1961–1990 data. Hydrothermal vents contribute a small flux of approximately 0.008 km³/yr, constituting about 1% of the lake's composition, derived from deep thermal sources mixing with . The of Yellowstone Lake maintains approximate equilibrium over long terms, where total inflows equal losses plus outflow plus minor storage changes, with a mean of 14 ± 3 years for the lake's 16.54 km³ volume. Mean annual , estimated via meteorological and isotopic models, stands at 0.19 km³/yr, accounting for 13–16% of the water turnover. Direct on the 341 km² surface averages around 0.97 m/yr (38.2 in) from 1961–1990 records, contributing roughly 0.33 km³/yr, though effective runoff from the broader watershed amplifies inputs to match outputs. The restricted outlet morphology causes temporary storage increases during high-inflow periods, retarding discharge and elevating lake levels. Annual water level fluctuations, gauged since , range from a historical low maximum of 2.40 ft (1934) to 7.72 ft () above datum, with a 1971–2000 average maximum of 5.46 ft and typical spring rises of 5.5 ft driven by winter snowpack accumulation and melt dynamics. Heavier snowpacks delay warming and sustain higher levels into summer, while events like the 1988 wildfires marginally increased outflows by 3.2% through accelerated melt in burned areas, slightly dampening peak lake elevations. USGS monitoring at the outlet confirms these hydrologic responses integrate regional signals, including variability and air temperature effects on and melt timing.

Geology

Formation in the Yellowstone Caldera

Yellowstone Lake's basin originated primarily from the structural collapse associated with the formation of the , which occurred approximately 631,000 years ago during the climactic eruption of the . This supereruption released over 1,000 cubic kilometers of rhyolitic magma and ash, evacuating a subsurface and causing the overlying 1- to 2-kilometer-thick crust to subside, forming an asymmetric depression roughly 45 kilometers east-west by 85 kilometers north-south. The northern two-thirds of the lake occupy this caldera floor, where the basin's depth reaches up to 120 meters in places, while the southern third extends beyond the caldera's southwestern rim into terrain less directly influenced by the collapse. Following formation, post-collapse volcanic activity significantly shaped the lake basin through the of rhyolitic lavas and domes between approximately 150,000 and 70,000 years ago. These viscous flows partially infilled the irregular topographic lows within the , creating an undulating sub-lacustrine landscape punctuated by volcanic ridges, vents, and fault scarps that contribute to the lake's current . Mapping from high-resolution seismic and surveys conducted between 1999 and 2007 revealed these features, including deposits and hydrothermal fissures, underscoring the basin's volcanic heritage over glacial modification in the interior. The basin's evolution continued through Pleistocene glaciations, with multiple ice advances eroding margins and depositing , particularly in the southern arms outside the . The Pinedale glaciation, culminating around 14,000 to 11,000 years ago, marked the final major glacial influence, after which ice recession allowed the basin to fill with water impounded by regional topography and outflow constraints at Fishing Bridge. Sediment cores indicate continuous lacustrine deposition since this post-glacial period, with the lake's surface stabilizing at about 2,357 meters elevation amid ongoing deformation, including inflation-deflation cycles that have tilted shorelines and influenced basin hydrology. Hydrothermal explosions, such as those forming the 1.5-kilometer-wide Mary Bay crater around 13,800 years ago, further dynamically altered the floor post-glaciation.

Hydrothermal Activity and Explosions

Yellowstone Lake hosts extensive sublacustrine hydrothermal s, including hot springs, hydrothermal vents, sinter deposits, siliceous spires, and mats of thermophilic on its floor, driven by heat from the underlying Yellowstone magmatic . These features alter sediments into clays and create chimneys akin to deep-sea black smokers, with water temperatures reaching up to 100°C or higher in some vents, though diluted by lake circulation. Visible shoreline manifestations occur at West Thumb Geyser Basin, where hot springs and discharge into the lake, contributing dissolved minerals that influence water chemistry. Hydrothermal explosions in the lake result from superheated flashing to , violently ejecting water, rock fragments, and sediment, often forming craters without direct magmatic involvement. The lake floor preserves evidence of recurrent such events over the past 14,000 years, including over a dozen craters from explosions between 3,000 and 14,000 years ago. The most prominent is the Mary Bay crater in the northern lake, the world's largest documented hydrothermal explosion feature, measuring approximately 2.5 km (1.6 mi) in diameter and dated to about 13,800 years ago. This event ejected breccia deposits overlying lake sediments, with the crater partially submerged and rimmed by explosion debris. Nearby, the Elliott's Crater, dated to around 9,400 years ago, represents another major sublacustrine explosion in the northern basin. Smaller craters, such as at Turbid Lake, indicate ongoing potential for such hazards, though no instrumental detections of lake-specific explosions have occurred in modern records. These events underscore the lake's dynamic geothermal floor, shaped by episodic violent releases rather than steady volcanism.

Climate

Seasonal Weather Patterns

Yellowstone Lake, situated at an elevation of 7,733 feet (2,357 m) in , exhibits a high-elevation with pronounced seasonal variations driven by its latitude, altitude, and proximity to mountain ranges. Winters are long and severe, featuring persistent cold and heavy fall, while summers are brief and relatively mild, often punctuated by convective thunderstorms. The lake's expansive surface area provides some thermal moderation, buffering extreme air temperature fluctuations compared to surrounding uplands, yet it routinely freezes solid due to subfreezing conditions. is distributed throughout the year, predominantly as in colder months and rain in warmer ones, with annual totals averaging around 20-25 inches (51-64 cm) at nearby stations. Winter (December through February) brings the most extreme conditions, with average high temperatures ranging from 23°F (-5°C) in January to 28°F (-2°C) in February at Lake Yellowstone station, and lows frequently dipping below 0°F (-18°C). Snowfall accumulates to depths exceeding 30 inches (76 cm) by late winter, contributing to formation on the lake by early December, which persists until May or June, reaching thicknesses up to 3 feet (0.91 m) in places. This ice cover has remained stable in duration over the past century, from 1927 to 2022, despite regional warming, likely due to increased snowfall offsetting temperature rises and maintaining cold surface conditions. Daytime sunlight is limited, with frequent overcast skies and winds amplifying . Spring (March through May) transitions abruptly, with high temperatures climbing from 37°F (3°C) in March to 58°F (14°C) in May, though overnight lows often remain near freezing or below. shifts from to mixed rain and , accompanied by high winds that can generate significant waves on the thawing lake, posing hazards. Ice breakup typically occurs in late May, exposing open water amid variable , including late-season storms. Summer (June through August) offers the park's most hospitable period, with average highs of 66-75°F (19-24°C) and lows around 35-40°F (2-4°C), though diurnal swings can exceed 30°F (17°C). Afternoon thunderstorms are common, delivering intense but short-lived rain, , or , while clear mornings prevail. The unfrozen lake supports and local humidity, but are rare due to . Fall (September through November) mirrors spring in variability, with highs dropping from 60°F (16°C) in to 30°F (-1°C) by , and early snowfalls possible by mid-October. Foliage changes occur amid cooling trends, and the lake begins refreezing as air temperatures fall below freezing. Winds and precipitation increase, often as by late fall, signaling the return to winter stasis.

Historical and Recent Environmental Variations

Sediment cores from Yellowstone Lake reveal a paleoclimate record spanning approximately 9,900 years, indicating early conditions with an open forest, smaller lake extent, and climate-driven shifts in and abundance. Rapid fluctuations in and occurred between 7,000 and 6,800 years ago, alongside a that altered lake productivity, as evidenced by biological and geochemical proxies in multi-proxy analyses. records show a pattern typical of summer-dry regimes, with dry-warm intervals from 2,100 to 850–800 calibrated years featuring anoxic lake conditions, low winter , and elevated summer . Post-glacial yielded initially colder, moister climates than today, transitioning to varied hydrothermal deposition in records signaling wetter phases over the past 15,000 years. Instrumental observations since the mid-20th century document a regional rise of 1.8°F in the , accompanied by stream increases of 1.8°F over the past century, yet lake cover duration has remained stable from late December through May, unaffected by these trends due to offsetting increases in snowfall. Yellowstone Lake typically maintains an average water of 41°F year-round and thaws in late May or early June, with no detected shifts in over the past 100 years despite broader warming. Water levels have fluctuated recently, declining from 2017 to 2021 before rebounding in 2022, influenced by variability and projected toward further drying under ongoing climate patterns. These observations highlight snowfall's role in buffering persistence against increases, though future projections suggest potential vulnerability if regimes shift.

Ecology

Native Aquatic Life

Yellowstone Lake's native aquatic biota primarily consists of cold-water fish species and supporting adapted to its high-elevation, oligotrophic conditions, with average water temperatures rarely exceeding 12°C (54°F) during summer. The dominant species is the (Oncorhynchus clarkii bouvieri), a restricted to the basin, which historically sustained populations exceeding 10 million adults in the lake through adfluvial life cycles—involving spawning in spring-fed tributaries like the Yellowstone and Lewis Rivers, where eggs incubate in gravel redds at water temperatures of 4–10°C (39–50°F), followed by juveniles rearing in streams before migrating to the lake for growth on and benthic organisms. This trout reaches lengths up to 500 mm (20 in) and weights of 1.5 kg (3.3 lb) in the lake, underpinning trophic cascades as a keystone prey for piscivorous birds, mammals, and reptiles. Supporting native fishes include (Prosopium williamsoni), which occupy littoral zones feeding on and , and (Catostomus catostomus), a bottom-feeder consuming and in shallower bays; both species occur in lower abundances compared to but enhance in nearshore habitats. (Cottus bairdii) and (Rhinichthys cataractae) persist in inflows, contributing to juvenile prey bases, though their lake populations are minimal due to depth preferences. (Thymallus arcticus), once native to park waters, has been functionally extirpated from the lake and its direct tributaries by historical overharvest and competition. Benthic macroinvertebrates, including native amphipods such as Hyalella azteca and Gammarus spp., form the foundational prey for young cutthroat trout and other fishes, comprising up to 55% of invertebrate biomass in profundal sediments before invasive disruptions; these crustaceans thrive in the lake's low-oxygen profundal zones via detritivory and scavenging. Planktonic communities of diatoms and copepods sustain pelagic food chains, with seasonal peaks in primary productivity driving fish growth rates of 0.5–1.0 g/day for subadults. No native amphibians or reptiles occupy the open lake waters, limited by its depth (up to 134 m or 440 ft) and persistent cold.

Invasive Species Dynamics

Invasive lake trout ( namaycush) were first detected in Yellowstone Lake in 1994, likely introduced through illegal by anglers in the late 1980s or early 1990s, leading to rapid population growth that displaced native ( clarkii bouvieri). By the early 2000s, lake trout predation had reduced cutthroat trout abundance by over 90% in some areas, altering the lake's trophic structure by adding a novel piscivorous level and causing cascading effects such as increased and individual size due to reduced grazing by juvenile cutthroat. These changes extended beyond the , diminishing spawning runs that supported terrestrial predators including grizzly bears, bald eagles, and river otters, with bear diets shifting and eagle reproduction declining by up to 40% in affected tributaries. The New Zealand mudsnail (Potamopyrgus antipodarum), an opportunistic parthenogenetic invader detected in waters including the lake by the early 2000s, proliferates in dense colonies exceeding 500,000 individuals per square meter, outcompeting native snails through high reproductive rates and broad tolerance to temperature and salinity variations. While direct impacts on lake fish populations remain understudied, mudsnails alter benthic food webs by dominating consumption, potentially reducing forage for native macroinvertebrates and indirectly affecting via diminished prey availability. Whirling disease, caused by the parasite and introduced via infected fish or in the 1990s, exacerbates cutthroat vulnerability by inducing spinal deformities and mortality rates up to 90% in infected juveniles, compounding predation pressures from . Management efforts since 1996 have focused on intensive to suppress , removing over 4 million individuals by 2021, which stabilized cutthroat populations at approximately 20-30% of pre-invasion levels by the through reduced predation and targeted suppression in spawning areas like Gullwing . Despite progress, reproduction persists, with juveniles detected annually, necessitating ongoing suppression estimated at 300,000-500,000 removals per year to prevent resurgence, as models indicate full cutthroat recovery requires sustained adult biomass below 1 kg/ha. Prevention protocols, including mandatory of boats via Clean-Drain-Dry methods implemented park-wide since 2008 and enhanced in 2024 against threats, aim to block further introductions, though climate-driven warming may accelerate invader establishment by favoring nonnative thermal tolerances. Other nonnative fish, such as (Salvelinus fontinalis) in tributaries, contribute to hybridization risks with cutthroat, prompting localized eradication via and barriers.

Interactions with Terrestrial Wildlife

Grizzly bears (Ursus arctos horribilis) historically foraged extensively along Yellowstone Lake's shores and tributaries for native (Oncorhynchus clarkii bouvieri), particularly during spawning runs in shallow inlet streams from June to early August. This piscivory provided a high-calorie , with comprising up to 20% of some grizzly diets in peak years before 1994. Bears accessed fish by wading into lake margins or patrolling streams, consuming thousands of individuals per season in accessible areas. The introduction of invasive lake trout (Salvelinus namaycush) in the 1980s, likely via illegal , precipitated a collapse in abundance, dropping lake-wide populations by over 80% by the early 2000s due to predation by the deeper-dwelling lake trout. Consequently, visitation to lake shores declined sharply; by 2007–2009, cutthroat trout constituted zero percent of their diet, prompting shifts to alternative foods such as moths, whitebark pine seeds, and increased predation on (Cervus canadensis) calves. This dietary pivot correlated with a fivefold rise in grizzly predation on elk calves in the Yellowstone Lake watershed, from an estimated 68 annually pre-invasion to 476 by the mid-2000s. American black bears (Ursus americanus) also exploited along the lake, though less intensively than grizzlies, exhibiting similar dietary flexibility post-invasion by foraging more on berries, roots, and small mammals. Opportunistic invertebrate consumption occurs seasonally, as evidenced by observations of grizzlies feeding on (Chironomidae) along Sedge Creek near the lake in 2011, where bears licked swarms from vegetation and water surfaces during emergences. Large herbivores including (Bison bison), , and (Alces alces) utilize lake shores for drinking water, especially during dry periods, though specific lake-focused data is limited compared to predation dynamics. These interactions underscore the lake's role in subsidizing terrestrial energy flows, disrupted by aquatic invasions that cascade to alter behaviors and prey selection across ecosystems.

History

Indigenous Utilization

Indigenous peoples have utilized the resources of Yellowstone Lake and its environs for at least 11,000 years, as evidenced by archaeological findings from the Montana-Yellowstone Archeological Project. The Tukudika, a band of Mountain Shoshone also known as Sheep Eaters, were primary year-round inhabitants of the higher elevations surrounding the lake, relying on its aquatic and adjacent terrestrial resources to supplement their bighorn sheep hunting. These nomadic hunter-gatherers constructed stone and timber fish traps along the lake's shores to capture native species such as cutthroat trout, with remnants of large boulder walls extending into the water documented in historical photographs and ethnographic records. Ethnographic reports confirm that Shoshone groups, including the Tukudika, were voracious fish consumers, integrating lake into their subsistence strategies alongside game drives for ungulates drawn to the area's meadows and forests. Seasonal migrations by other tribes, such as , Blackfeet, and , brought them to the Yellowstone region for hunting and resource gathering, though their use of the lake itself focused less on fisheries and more on overland travel routes and terrestrial game. Oral histories from traditions further indicate ancestral presence near the lake between approximately 1400 and 1700 CE during the , suggesting intensified resource exploitation during cooler periods. These practices persisted until the late , when Euro-American settlement and the establishment of in 1872 displaced remaining Tukudika populations through military enforcement and relocation policies. Archaeological sites around the lake, including tools and traps, underscore the sustained, adaptive utilization of its cold-water fisheries and hydrothermal-influenced ecosystems without evidence of avoidance due to geothermal features.

European-American Exploration

The first European-American believed to have encountered Yellowstone Lake was , a trapper who separated from Manuel Lisa's fur-trapping party for a solo winter expedition across the region in 1807–1808. Colter's route took him along the lake's vicinity, where he observed thermal features such as hot springs and , but his reports of a vast, steaming landscape were dismissed by contemporaries as fabrications, earning the area the nickname "." Sporadic visits by other mountain men followed over the next several decades, though none produced detailed documentation of the lake itself. Interest revived in the late 1860s amid mining prospecting and curiosity about rumored wonders. The Cook–Folsom–Peterson Expedition of 1869, a privately funded party of three led by , Charles W. Cook, and William Peterson, became the first to systematically explore and record Yellowstone Lake. Departing from Diamond City, , on September 6, they reached the lake's north shore by September 24, surveying its extent, navigating to West Thumb, and extending their route to Shoshone Lake while updating earlier rudimentary maps like Walter DeLacy's 1865 sketch. Their accounts, published in 1870, provided the first credible written descriptions but received limited attention due to the ongoing Civil War aftermath and skepticism toward private ventures. The Washburn–Langford–Doane Expedition of 1870 marked a more formal civilian-military effort, led by Surveyor-General Henry D. Washburn with Nathaniel P. Langford, future park superintendent, and Lieutenant Gustavus C. Doane providing U.S. Army escort. Starting in August from , the group focused on the Yellowstone region's interior, circumnavigating much of Yellowstone Lake by exploring its eastern and southern shores, measuring features, and naming landmarks such as the lake's arms. Langford's subsequent lectures and writings publicized the lake's scale—approximately 20 miles long—and its geothermal surroundings, heightening national awareness despite some sensationalism in portrayals. Government involvement culminated in Ferdinand V. Hayden's U.S. Geological Survey of 1871, a federally backed scientific endeavor that comprehensively mapped Yellowstone Lake. Hayden's team, including artist and photographer , conducted bathymetric soundings—over 300 lead-line measurements—under Henry Wood Elliott, producing the first detailed contour map of the lake's depths and configuration, revealing its irregular shape and volcanic origins. Jackson's photographs, such as views of the lake's outlet and southwest arm, alongside Moran's sketches, provided visual evidence that corroborated earlier reports and swayed to establish Yellowstone as the world's first in 1872. These expeditions collectively shifted perceptions from myth to verified geography, emphasizing the lake's elevation at 7,733 feet and its role as the Yellowstone River's headwaters.

Rejected Development Schemes

In the late 1910s and early 1920s, irrigation interests from , , and , organized as the Yellowstone Irrigation Association in 1919, advocated for damming Yellowstone Lake to create a large storage . The proposal aimed to raise the lake's by up to 25 feet at the outlet near Fishing Bridge, storing excess spring runoff to irrigate approximately 1 million acres of arid land in the Yellowstone Valley and mitigate downstream flooding, thereby boosting regional agriculture and economic growth, such as expanding Livingston, 's population to 50,000. Proponents, including Senator Tom Walsh of , introduced legislation on 7, 1920, to authorize the dam under the Federal Water Power Act, arguing it would harness the lake's natural regulatory capacity without significant ecological disruption. Conservationists vehemently opposed the scheme, warning it would inundate roughly 9,000 acres of parkland, including prime wildlife habitats, thermal features, and scenic shorelines, fundamentally altering the lake's pristine character and setting a for commercial exploitation within national parks. Led by naturalist , who publicized the threat in outlets like Forest and Stream, the resistance included Director , Yellowstone Superintendent Horace Albright, and Robert Sterling Yard of the National Parks Association, backed by groups such as the and National Association of Audubon Societies. They contended the lake already provided natural flood control through seasonal fluctuations, and damming would yield negligible downstream benefits while devastating —the park's primary economic value—through submerged and degraded aesthetics; Yard emphasized that granting even one such privilege would initiate "the beginning of a swift end" for park integrity. Congressional hearings in May 1920 exposed divisions, with the bill stalling on the calendar and Walsh's measure failing to advance from committee in 1921 amid widespread public petitions. Walsh reintroduced the bill in 1922, but opposition intensified following the implicating Interior Secretary Albert Fall and the election of conservation-minded Representative Scott Leavitt. By March 1921, amendments to the Federal Water Power Act explicitly exempted national parks from such developments, and in 1923, affirmed the parks' inviolability, rejecting the Yellowstone Lake dam outright. Subsequent proposals between 1920 and 1937 to construct smaller dams or raise the lake by as little as 5 feet for similar purposes met the same fate, defeated through sustained prioritizing preservation over utilitarian water projects. These efforts, often tied to broader demands on tributaries like the Falls and Bechler Rivers, ultimately led to compromises outside boundaries, such as the 1938 Grassy Lake Dam, preserving Yellowstone Lake's unaltered hydrological role.

Management and Recreation

Conservation Strategies

The (NPS) implements conservation strategies for Yellowstone Lake primarily to protect native aquatic species from invasive threats and maintain ecosystem integrity, with the invasive (Salvelinus namaycush) posing the most significant challenge since its introduction in the 1980s. This non-native predator has decimated populations of the endemic (Oncorhynchus clarkii bouvieri), which serves as a supporting riparian birds, bears, and other wildlife through its abundance and migration patterns. To counteract this, the NPS launched a lake trout suppression program in 1994, employing intensive gill netting operations that have removed millions of individuals, reducing lake trout by over 80% from peak levels by 2017 and facilitating partial recovery of cutthroat trout densities in some lake arms. Suppression efforts have evolved to include targeted removal of spawning aggregates using suction dredging and electroshocking in shallow nearshore areas, as well as experimental techniques to destroy embryos and larvae in deep-water reefs identified via acoustic tracking by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). The Yellowstone Lake Working Group, established in 2017, coordinates these activities by reviewing monitoring data and adapting tactics, such as prioritizing high-density spawning sites, to enhance efficacy amid challenges like climate-driven warmer waters that favor reproduction. Despite progress, full eradication remains elusive due to the lake's vast depth (over 300 feet) and the invasives' resilience, with ongoing suppression costing approximately $1 million annually as of 2023 and requiring integration with disease management for whirling disease in . Preventive measures against further aquatic (AIS) introductions emphasize public compliance with "clean, drain, dry" protocols for boats and gear, enforced through mandatory inspections at entry points and awareness campaigns, as at least eight AIS—including New Zealand mudsnails and non-native fish—already infest park waters. monitoring, conducted by the NPS Greater Yellowstone Inventory and Monitoring Network, tracks parameters like temperature, nutrients, and geothermal-influenced levels, confirming overall high purity suitable for native biota but with exceedances attributable to natural hydrothermal inputs rather than anthropogenic . These strategies align with the park's Native Fish Conservation Plan, which prioritizes restoring pre-invasion dynamics through data-driven interventions rather than broad habitat alterations.

Angling Practices and Regulations

Angling in Yellowstone Lake primarily targets the native (Oncorhynchus clarkii bouvieri) and the invasive (Salvelinus namaycush), with practices emphasizing conservation of native species and suppression of the non-native predator. from shore or boats is common for cutthroat trout in shallow nearshore areas and tributaries, using dry flies, nymphs, or streamers during summer when fish feed on and baitfish. Trolling with downriggers or divers targets deeper-dwelling lake trout, often at depths exceeding 50 feet, using spoons, plugs, or cutbait to encourage . access is required for much of the lake's 141-square-mile expanse, with launches available at bridges and marinas, though high winds and sudden storms necessitate caution. Regulations mandate a valid fishing permit, available for $40 annually starting in 2025, covering anglers 16 and older, with youth under 16 fishing free but under adult supervision. All native fish, including , must be released unharmed immediately; caught in Yellowstone Lake must be killed and not released, supporting ongoing suppression efforts that have reduced their population and aided cutthroat recovery. Fishing is permitted from sunrise to sunset, with no bag or possession limits on to maximize removal, while cutthroat have zero retention. Lead-free terminal tackle is required parkwide, excluding large downrigger weights over 4 ounces used for deep angling, to prevent in scavengers like bald eagles and grizzly bears. Artificial lures and flies only; bait fishing is prohibited in the lake to minimize spread and hook mortality in released natives. is allowed on Yellowstone Lake when safe, following the same species-specific rules.

Tourism Infrastructure and Access

Yellowstone Lake is primarily accessed via the park's Grand Loop Road system, with major entry points including the West Thumb Junction to the southwest, Fishing Bridge Junction to the north, and Bridge Bay to the southeast. The shoreline features pullouts for vehicle parking and viewing along paved roads, enabling roadside observation of the lake without extensive . No roads encircle the entire lake, limiting vehicular access to developed areas while preserving remote shorelines. Key visitor facilities cluster around Fishing Bridge and Bridge Bay. The Fishing Bridge Visitor Center provides interpretive exhibits on lake ecology and , accessible year-round though services vary seasonally. options include the , the park's oldest operating hotel opened in 1891 and designated a in 2015, offering rooms with lake views. Adjacent Lake Lodge Cabins provide additional accommodations. Campgrounds such as Bridge Bay Campground and the hard-sided-only Fishing Bridge RV Park support overnight stays near the lake. Boating infrastructure centers on Bridge Bay Marina, which offers rentals for motorized and non-motorized vessels, fuel, and a sewage dump station during the boating season from early June to early October. All watercraft require a National Park Service permit and mandatory aquatic invasive species (AIS) inspection, involving cleaning, draining, and drying to prevent introductions like New Zealand mudsnails. Private boats must comply with these protocols before launch, and motorized boating is restricted to designated lakes including Yellowstone Lake. Backcountry shuttle services from the marina facilitate access to remote sites for hiking and camping. Regulations prohibit fishing from Fishing Bridge since 1973 to protect native cutthroat trout populations, and visitors must maintain 25 yards from wildlife like bears near shorelines.

References

  1. https://www.nps.gov/yell/learn/nature/yellowstone-lake.htm
  2. https://www.usgs.gov/observatories/yvo/news/exploring-depths-yellowstone-lake
  3. https://www.nps.gov/places/000/yellowstone-lake-sedge-bay.htm
  4. https://www.nps.gov/yell/learn/nature/yellowstone-lake-geology.htm
  5. https://www.usgs.gov/observatories/yvo/news/dynamic-floor-yellowstone-lake-over-past-14000-years
  6. https://pubs.usgs.gov/pp/1717/downloads/pdf/p1717D.pdf
  7. https://www.usgs.gov/observatories/yvo/news/remarkable-diversity-hot-springs-bottom-yellowstone-lake
  8. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6426464/
  9. https://www.nps.gov/yell/learn/nature/water.htm
  10. https://www.nps.gov/yell/planyourvisit/parkfacts.htm
  11. https://pubs.usgs.gov/pp/1717/downloads/pdf/p1717F.pdf
  12. http://www.georgewright.org/01yp_farnes.pdf
  13. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0277379123004675
  14. https://waterdata.usgs.gov/monitoring-location/06186500/
  15. https://www.usgs.gov/observatories/yvo/news/yellowstones-magmatic-system-over-past-631000-years
  16. https://pubs.geoscienceworld.org/gsa/gsabulletin/article/115/8/954/2026/hydrothermal-and-tectonic-activity-in-northern
  17. https://www.usgs.gov/observatories/yvo/news/thousands-years-caldera-inflation-and-deflation-recorded-shoreline
  18. https://www.usgs.gov/observatories/yvo/news/hydrothermal-system-yellowstone-lake
  19. https://www.usgs.gov/observatories/yvo/news/how-do-hot-springs-floor-yellowstone-lake-compare-deep-seafloor-hydrothermal
  20. https://pubs.usgs.gov/publication/70025764
  21. https://www.nps.gov/yell/learn/nature/hydrothermal-features.htm
  22. https://www.usgs.gov/volcanoes/yellowstone/science/hydrothermal-explosions-yellowstone
  23. https://www.nps.gov/features/yell/ofvec/exhibits/science/research/lake4.htm
  24. https://www.usgs.gov/observatories/yvo/news/hydrothermal-explosions-hidden-beneath-yellowstone-lakes-serene-waters
  25. https://www.nps.gov/yell/planyourvisit/weather.htm
  26. http://www.wrcc.dri.edu/cgi-bin/cliMAIN.pl?wylyel
  27. https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1748-9326/ad3bd1
  28. https://www.yellowstonepark.com/park/weather-seasons/average-yellowstone-weather-season/
  29. https://weatherspark.com/y/150294/Average-Weather-in-Yellowstone-National-Park-Wyoming-United-States-Year-Round
  30. https://www.usgs.gov/observatories/yvo/news/glimpse-yellowstone-lakes-past-environment
  31. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0277379121004820
  32. https://pubs.usgs.gov/publication/70000138
  33. https://www.usgs.gov/publications/multi-proxy-record-holocene-paleoenvironmental-conditions-yellowstone-lake-wyoming-usa
  34. https://www.nps.gov/yell/learn/historyculture/archeologyclimate.htm
  35. https://www.usgs.gov/observatories/yvo/news/hydrothermal-deposits-record-climate-changes-yellowstone
  36. https://www.nps.gov/yell/learn/nature/changes-in-yellowstone-climate.htm
  37. https://www.uwyo.edu/news/2024/04/uw-led-research-yellowstone-lake-ice-cover-unchanged-despite-warming-climate.html
  38. https://www.usgs.gov/observatories/yvo/news/yellowstone-lake-water-levels-can-tell-us-more-you-might-think
  39. https://www.nps.gov/yell/learn/management/fish.htm
  40. https://www.fs.usda.gov/rm/pubs_rm/rm_gtr256/rm_gtr256_036_054.pdf
  41. https://www.nps.gov/yell/planyourvisit/fishing.htm
  42. https://www.nps.gov/yell/learn/upload/2023-YELL-Native-Fish-Conservation-Program-Report-web.pdf
  43. https://www.nps.gov/yell/learn/upload/2015-2018-Fish-Report_Web.pdf
  44. https://www.usgs.gov/publications/invasive-lake-trout-reproduction-yellowstone-lake-under-active-suppression-program
  45. https://academic.oup.com/fisheries/article/49/2/55/7810791
  46. https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.aav1139
  47. https://www.nps.gov/yell/learn/ys-25-1-non-native-lake-trout-induce-cascading-changes-in-the-yellowstone-lake-ecosystem.htm
  48. https://phys.org/news/2019-03-broad-impacts-lake-trout-invasion.html
  49. https://www.wyomingpublicmedia.org/natural-resources-energy/2019-03-29/study-finds-lake-trout-impacts-surrounding-ecosystems-not-just-yellowstone-lake
  50. https://www.nps.gov/yell/learn/nature/ais.htm
  51. https://pubs.usgs.gov/publication/70249666
  52. https://www.nps.gov/yell/learn/management/ais.htm
  53. https://www.mdpi.com/2410-3888/5/2/18
  54. https://www.nps.gov/yell/learn/news/24016.htm
  55. https://www.nps.gov/yell/learn/birds-and-mammals-that-consume-yellowstone-cutthroat-trout-in-yellowstone-lake-and-its-tributaries.htm
  56. https://pubs.usgs.gov/publication/70045487
  57. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3673062/
  58. https://bioone.org/journals/ursus/volume-29/issue-1/URSUS-D-17-00029.1/Grizzly-bear-consumption-of-midges-in-Yellowstone-National-Park/10.2192/URSUS-D-17-00029.1.short
  59. https://www.nps.gov/yell/learn/kidsyouth/wildlife.htm
  60. https://www.nps.gov/articles/montana-yellowstone-archeological-project.htm
  61. https://www.nps.gov/yell/learn/historyculture/the-tukudika-indians.htm
  62. https://www.nps.gov/features/yell/slidefile/history/indians/page.htm
  63. https://www.nps.gov/articles/archeology-debunkingthemyth-seasonal-use-of-yellowstone.htm
  64. https://www.nps.gov/yell/learn/historyculture/historic-tribes.htm
  65. https://www.intermountainhistories.org/items/show/344
  66. https://www.usgs.gov/observatories/yvo/news/indigenous-people-were-never-afraid-yellowstone
  67. https://www.usgs.gov/observatories/yvo/news/exploration-yellowstone
  68. https://www.nps.gov/yell/learn/historyculture/european-americans-arrive.htm
  69. https://www.nps.gov/yell/learn/historyculture/expeditions.htm
  70. http://www.georgewright.org/01yp_yochim.pdf
  71. https://mountainjournal.org/yellowstone-once-contended-with-its-own-version-of-hetch-hetchy/
  72. https://pdxscholar.library.pdx.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1003&context=hist_fac
  73. https://www.usgs.gov/publications/yellowstone-cutthroat-trout-recovery-yellowstone-lake-complex-interactions-among
  74. https://www.usgs.gov/publications/yellowstone-lake-ecosystem-restoration-a-case-study-invasive-fish-management
  75. https://www.nps.gov/articles/an-approach-to-conservation-of-native-fish-in-yellowstone-25-1.htm
  76. https://www.nps.gov/yell/learn/ys-25-1-yellowstone-lake-working-group-established-to-enhance-native-fish-conservation.htm
  77. https://www.usgs.gov/centers/norock/science/yellowstone-lake-acoustic-biotelemetry-project-home-page
  78. https://www.nps.gov/articles/river-monitoring-yell.htm
  79. https://www.yellowstone.org/safeguarding-yellowstones-ecosystem/native-fish/
  80. https://www.nps.gov/yell/learn/news/25011.htm
  81. https://www.nps.gov/yell/planyourvisit/explorefishingbridgelake.htm
  82. https://www.nps.gov/yell/learn/management/upload/YELL_FD_508.pdf
  83. https://www.nps.gov/places/yell-lake-hotel.htm
  84. https://www.nps.gov/yell/planyourvisit/boating.htm
  85. https://www.yellowstonenationalparklodges.com/adventure/water-adventures/backcountry-shuttle-service/
Add your contribution
Related Hubs
User Avatar
No comments yet.