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Yellowstone National ParkRoosevelt Arch is at the park's North Entrance
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Yellowstone National Park
Yellowstone Fact Sheet

GENERAL

  • World’s First National Park
  • A designated World Heritage Site
  • A designated Biosphere Reserve Site
  • 3,472 square miles or 8,987 square km
  • 2,219,789 acres or 898,317 ectares
  • 63 air miles north to south (102 km)
  • 54 air miles east to west 87 km)
  • 96 % in Wyoming
  • 3 % in Montana
  • 1 % in Idaho
  • Highest Point: 11,358 ft / 3,462 m (Eagle Peak)
  • Lowest Point: 5,282 ft / 1,610 m (Reese Creek)
  • Larger than Rhode Island and Delaware combined
  • Approximately 5% of park is covered by water; 15% is grassland; and 80% is forested
  • Precipitation ranges from 10 inches (26 cm) at the north boundary to 80 inches (205 cm) in the southwest corner
  • Temperatures Average at Mammoth: January: 9° F/-13 C in 
    July: 80° F/27 C 
  • Records:
    High: 99°F/37 C, 2002 (Mammoth)
    Low Temp: -66° F/-54 C (West Entrance, Riverside Station 1933)

WILDLIFE

  • 7 species of native ungulates
  • 2 species of bears
  • Approximately 67 species of other mammals
  • 322 recorded species of birds (148 nesting species)
  • 16 species of fish (5 non-native)
  • 6 species of reptiles
  • 4 species of amphibians
  • 1 threatened species: Canada lynx
    1 endangered species: gray wolf (designated an experimental and non-essential population in Yellowstone National Park; proposed for delisting in 2008)

FLORA

  • 7 species of conifers
  • Approximately 80% of forest is comprised of lodgepole pine
  • Approximately 1,100 species of native vascular plants
  • More than 199 species of exotic (non-native) plants
  • 186 species of lichens
  • At least 406 species of thermophiles (only 1% of hydrothermal areas inventoried) 

GEOLOGY

  • An active volcano
  • Approximately 1,000–3,000 earthquakes annually
  • Approximately 10,000 thermal features
  • More than 300 geysers
  • One of the world’s largest calderas, measuring 45 by 30 miles (72 by 48 km)
  • One of the world's largest petrified forests
  • Approximately 290 waterfalls, 15 ft. or higher, flowing year-round
  • Tallest waterfall: Lower Falls of the Yellowstone River at 308 ft. (94 m)

YELLOWSTONE LAKE

  • 131.7 sq. miles (35,400 hectares) of surface area
  • 141 miles (177 km) of shoreline
  • 20 miles (32 km) north to south
  • 14 miles (23 km) east to west
  • Average depth: 140 feet (43 m)
  • Maximum depth: about 410 feet (122 m)

CULTURAL RESOURCES

  • 1,000+ documented archeological sites
  • 1,106 historic structures
  • 6 National Historic Landmarks (Obsidian Cliff & 5 buildings)
  • Nearly 200,000 museum objects
  • 20,000 titles in Park Research Library
  • 2,500 linear feet of historic documents
  • About 90,000 photographic prints and negatives
  • 21 Affiliated American Indian tribes

LATITUDE / LONGITUDE / UTM
(NOTE: ALL UTMS ARE "Nad83")

1. Center of the park:

44 36 53.25 (Lat) -110 30 03.93 (Long)
UTM Zone 12: 4940281 N, 539584 E

2. Old Faithful:

44 27 37.31 (Lat) -110 49 41.59 (Long)
UTM Zone 12: 4923021 N, 513665 E

3. Mammoth:

44 58 34.79 (Lat) -110 42 03.37 (Long)
UTM Zone 12: 4980364 N, 523580 E

4. Entrances:

East Entrance:

44 29 18.42 (Lat) -110 00 13.80 (Long)
UTM Zone 12: 4926609 N, 579209 E

North Entrance:

45 01 46.39 (Lat) -110 42 31.32 (Long)
UTM Zone 12: 4986275 N, 522949 E

Northeast Entrance:

45 00 12.09 (Lat) -110 00 04.62 (Long)
UTM Zone 12: 4983809 N, 578510 E

South Entrance:

44 07 56.97 (Lat) -110 39 52.83 (Long)
UTM Zone 12: 4886643 N, 526824 E

West Entrance:

44 39 30.27 (Lat) -111 05 49.87 (Long)
UTM Zone 12: 4945010 N, 492295 E


ROADS AND TRAILS

  • 5 park entrances
  • 466 mi / 750 km of roads (310 mi/499 km paved miles)
  • 950 mi / 1,529 km of backcountry trails
  • 92 trailheads
  • 301 backcountry campsites

VISITATION

  • 2007 - 3,151,342 visitors
  • Record year: 2007 – 3,151,342 visitors
  • Winter visitors: Approximately 99,775

FACILITIES

  • 9 visitor centers and museums
  • 9 hotels/lodges (2,000+ hotel rooms/cabins)
  • 7 NPS-operated campgrounds (454 sites)
  • 5 concession-operated campgrounds (1,700 sites)
  • 1,500+ buildings (NPS and concessions)
  • 52 picnic areas
  • 1 marina
  • 13 self-guiding trails 

EMPLOYEES

  • During the summer:
    Approximately 800 National Park Service (about 400 year-round)
  • Approximately 3,500 work for concessions

MAILING ADDRESS

National Park Service
P.O. Box 168
Yellowstone National Park, WY 82190-0168
Internet Website: www.nps.gov/yell/

 


Seventh Cavalry Ensignia Pin.  

Did You Know?
Prior to the establishment of the National Park Service, the U.S. Army protected Yellowstone between 1886 and 1918. Fort Yellowstone was established at Mammoth Hot Springs for that purpose.

Last Updated: April 14, 2008 at 14:19 EST