National Park Service LogoU.S. Department of the InteriorNational Park ServiceNational Park Service
National Park Service: U.S. Department of the InteriorNational Park Service Arrowhead
 
 
Making America's Best Idea Even Better
Yellowstone National ParkBear walking on horizon as sun sets.
view map
text size:largestlargernormal
printer friendly
Yellowstone National Park
Hot Spot Theories

Two Hotspot Theories

MOLTEN ROCK, or magma, rises in convection cells, like water boiling in a pot. The left side of this illustration shows the traditional view of a hotspot as a plume of magma rising from the earth's core. The right side shows another theory that the Yellowstone hotspot originates at a much shallower depth.

View Caldera | Caldera Rim |Track the Hotspot | Eruptions

 
Summer Crowd at Old Faithful.  

Did You Know?
At peak summer levels, 3,500 employees work for Yellowstone National Park concessioners and about 800 work for the park.

Disclaimer Accessibility Privacy Policy FOIA Notices USA.gov

Last Updated: March 06, 2008 at 15:43 EST