founder of Firecreek Coffee Company with three locations throughout Northern Arizona and two in the Phoenix area has spent nearly 30 years in the coffee industry the coffee connoisseur is moving into the artisan bread industry with the announcement of his latest venture — Big Park Bakery Opening in June in the Village of Oak Creek at 6446 State Route179 Big Park Bakery will offer fresh baked breads including naturally leavened sourdough as well as an array of scratch made pastries and savory items “Big Park Bakery will be a traditional European bread bakery in the heart of Big Park,” said Funk who has been busy restoring old stone-decked ovens and old bread-making equipment for the bakery’s opening “We’re excited to offer this style of bread to our customers as well as to our Firecreek Coffee locations.” To ingratiate himself into the world of artisan European breadmaking Funk consulted an expert known “the bread whisperer” who came out from Connecticut to teach Funk and his team how to make this traditional style of bread In addition to the scratch-baked goods made at each Firecreek Coffee location Big Park Bakery will supply the restaurants with fancier more elevated pastries and fresh-made breads For more about Big Park Bakery, visit bigparkbakery.com.  Guests can also email info@bigparkbakery.com for more information Yellowstone became the first national park for all to enjoy the unique hydrothermal and geologic features visitors have unparalleled opportunities to observe wildlife in an intact ecosystem explore geothermal areas that contain about half the world’s active geysers and view geologic wonders like the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone River What conditions can you expect during your trip to Yellowstone Wondering what will be open during your next trip Most park roads closed to regular vehicles on November 1 Find current information about road opening and closing dates here Yellowstone changes with the seasons—make the most of your visit A visit to Yellowstone is a bucket list item Make it the trip of a lifetime by keeping yourself Park campgrounds are reserved and full far in advance—plan ahead for a successful visit There are multiple lodging options that cater to different needs in Yellowstone One app puts every park at your fingertips Download the NPS app to navigate the parks on the go and stretches from 59th Street to 110th Street between Fifth Avenue and Central Park West Help the Central Park Conservancy keep the Park beautiful and vibrant by making a gift today Interested in learning more about the community, history, and stories of Seneca Village? Visit our new page for a list of articles and resources curated by the Central Park Conservancy Central Park’s landscape near the West 85th Street entrance was home to Seneca Village a community of predominately free African-American property owners subdivided their land and sold it as 200 lots and the AME Zion Church purchased another six lots the Whiteheads sold about half of their land parcels to other African-Americans there were approximately 10 homes in the Village Detail of map of the pre-Central Park landscape showing the area of Seneca Village Courtesy of New York City Municipal Archives There is some evidence that residents had gardens and raised livestock in Seneca Village and the nearby Hudson River was a likely source of fishing for the community Seneca Village comprised 50 homes and three churches and a school for African-American students During the early 1850s, the City began planning for a large municipal park to counter unhealthful urban conditions and provide space for recreation. In 1853, the New York State Legislature enacted a law that set aside 775 acres of land in Manhattan—from 59th to 106th Streets between Fifth and Eighth Avenues—to create the country’s first major landscaped public park The City acquired the land through eminent domain the law that allows the government to take private land for public use with compensation paid to the landowner This was a common practice in the 19th century and had been used to build Manhattan’s grid of streets decades earlier There were roughly 1,600 inhabitants displaced throughout the area many argued that their land was undervalued all residents had to leave by the end of 1857 Research is underway to determine where Seneca Village residents relocated—some may have gone to other African-American communities in the region such as Sandy Ground in Staten Island and Skunk Hollow in New Jersey Seneca Village extended as far east as Seventh Avenue and would have bordered the present-day Arthur Ross Pinetum (mid-Park between 84th and 86th Streets) Although we have limited knowledge of what life was like in Seneca Village, there has been ongoing work to learn more about its residents and their lives. In 2011, archaeologists from Columbia University and The City University of New York conducted a dig of the site They uncovered artifacts such as an iron tea kettle and a small shoe with a leather sole and fabric upper These items have helped us piece together what life was like for the village’s residents Learn about the historical research of this community of predominantly African-Americans Central Park has a long and storied history with the LGBTQ+ community The Women’s Rights Pioneers Monument is the first monument in Central Park to depict actual women The Obelisk is the oldest outdoor monument in New York City and the oldest man-made object in Central Park Get your free Spring Guide with hidden gems and must-do activities Historical/Interpretive Information/Exhibits An Ohio.gov website belongs to an official government organization in the State of Ohio A lock or https:// means you've safely connected to the .gov website Share sensitive information only on official and personal information are protected by federal and state digital security standards Governor and First Lady DeWine welcome visitors to ODNR's Great Council State Park Ohio Governor Mike DeWine and First Lady Fran DeWine joined Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Director Mary Mertz and Shawnee leaders to celebrate the grand opening of Ohio's 76th state park Great Council State Park is located along U.S Route 68 on the site of the historic seat of the 16th-century Shawnee village Old Chillicothe The site is regarded as a cherished reminder of Ohio's Shawnee history and pioneer past grew up hearing stories about Oldtown and had a special interest in the site the property did not reflect the area's historical significance and a motel was eventually built on the land “We always thought that with such a rich and storied history Ohio needed to do something big to bring attention to this area," said Governor DeWine is the preservation of Ohio’s history and a tribute to the Shawnee people and the pioneers These are the stories that need to be told.” The new park offers visitors a glimpse of what Shawnee life looked like in the 1700s through a 12,000 square-foot interpretative center the multi-storied center features a gallery space and a short film about the history of Old Chillicothe The nearly 15-acre park also features a native plant prairie and scenic views of the Little Miami River.  this is the first time we’ve told Ohio’s story from the perspective of the Native Americans and we’re especially pleased to be able to do so at Great Council," said First Lady DeWine exploring the interpretive center exhibits you can feel the history that happened on this land."   “I want people to be curious about the history of Great Council State Park and yearn to learn more about what was here in the past,” said Director Mertz “We want visitors to ask questions about the Shawnee and their connection to nature in the 1700s We want visitors to feel that strong link between our natural world back then and today.” ODNR worked with the three federally recognized Shawnee tribes Tribe members also served as consultants on many of the exhibits Great Council State Park highlights the stories of historical figures like Shawnee warrior and leader Tecumseh The interpretative center offers visitors the opportunity to get their hands wet in a living stream,  experience a 1770s interactive dwelling Work on Great Council State Park started in 2021 when ODNR purchased the Tecumseh Motel property along U.S a groundbreaking ceremony was held to commemorate the start of construction Today’s ribbon-cutting ceremony marked the park's official opening Watching Old Faithful Geyser erupt is a Yellowstone National Park tradition People from all over the world have journeyed here to watch this famous geyser The park’s wildlife and scenery might be as well-known today but it was the unique thermal features like Old Faithful Geyser that inspired the establishment of Yellowstone as the world’s first national park in 1872 Old Faithful is one of nearly 500 geysers in Yellowstone and one of six that park rangers currently predict It is uncommon to be able to predict geyser eruptions with regularity and Old Faithful has lived up to its name only lengthening the time between eruptions by about 30 minutes in the last 30 years Thermal features change constantly and it is possible Old Faithful may stop erupting someday Geysers and other thermal features are evidence of ongoing volcanic activity beneath the surface and change is part of this natural system Yellowstone preserves the natural geologic processes so that visitors may continue to enjoy this natural system Watch eruptions from the Old Faithful viewing area or along the boardwalks that weave around the geyser and through the Upper Geyser Basin When visiting Old Faithful, you can find when next eruption is predicted at the Old Faithful Visitor Education Center, at the lodges, and in the NPS App - Predictions are not available when the Old Faithful Visitor Education Center is closed typically early November through mid-December and mid-March through mid-April - The last prediction made will remain up until a new prediction is available The Old Faithful Inn was designed by Robert C. Reamer, who wanted the asymmetry of the building to reflect the chaos of nature. It was built during the winter of 1903–1904. The Old Faithful Inn is one of the few remaining log hotels in the United States It is a masterpiece of rustic architecture in its stylized design and fine craftsmanship The building is a rustic log and wood-frame structure with gigantic proportions: nearly 700 feet (213 m) in length and seven stories high The lobby of the hotel features a 65-foot (20-m) ceiling and railings made of contorted lodgepole pine Stand in the lobby and look up at the exposed structure or walk up a gnarled log staircase to one of the balconies Wings were added to the hotel in 1915 and 1927 and today there are 327 rooms available to guests in this National Historic Landmark Evidence of the geological forces that have shaped Yellowstone are found in abundance in this district. The hills surrounding Old Faithful and the Upper Geyser Basin are reminders of Quaternary rhyolitic lava flows. These flows, occurring long after the catastrophic eruption of 600,000 years ago flowed across the landscape like stiff mounds of bread dough due to their high silica content Evidence of glacial activity is common and it is one of the keys that allows geysers to exist Glacier till deposits underlie the geyser basins providing storage areas for the water used in eruptions such as Porcupine Hills north of Fountain Flats are comprised of glacial gravel and are reminders that as recently as 13,000 years ago Signs of the forces of erosion can be seen everywhere from runoff channels carved across the sinter in the geyser basins to the drainage created by the Firehole River Mountain building is evident as you drive south of Old Faithful Here the Rocky Mountains reach a height of 8,262 feet (2518 m) dividing the country into two distinct watersheds possesses close to 60 percent of the world's geysers The Upper Geyser Basin is home to the largest numbers of this fragile feature found in the park Within one square mile there are at least 150 of these hydrothermal wonders only five major geysers are predicted regularly by the naturalist staff smaller geysers to be seen and marveled at in this basin as well as numerous hot springs and one recently developed mudpot (if it lasts) Black Sand Basin is northwest of Old Faithful and has several enjoyable hydrothermal features from the rather active Cliff Geyser to the chromatic Rainbow Pool and Sunset Lake or can be accessed by foot via the trail network through the Upper Geyser Basin though small in size compared to its companions along the Firehole River where a 200 feet x 300 feet (61 m x 91 m) hot spring steams within and constantly discharges more than 4,000 gallons (15,142 l) of water per minute into the Firehole River Next is the chromatic wonder of Grand Prismatic Spring, Yellowstone's largest hot springs This feature is 370 feet (113 m) in diameter and more than 121 feet (37 m) in depth Lone Star Geyser erupts about every three hours for observations of geyser times and types of eruptions easy there-and-back hike or bike that follows the Firehole River to the geyser The trailhead is east of Kepler Cascades pullout 3.5 miles (5.6 km) southeast of the Old Faithful overpass on Grand Loop Road Lone Star erupts 30–45 feet (9–14 m) about every three hours please note the time and report it at the Old Faithful Visitor Education Center Biking is not permitted beyond a barrier near the geyser The Old Faithful area has many trails that are wonderful to explore no matter the time of year you find yourself in at Old Faithful Hydrothermal features abound in the Upper Geyser Basin and many trails in the area lead to some quieter views Discover skiing and snowshoeing opportunities around the Old Faithful area There are a lot of backcountry campsites in this region. A popular backcountry destination is Shoshone Geyser Basin. It is a 17-mile roundtrip hike that crosses the Continental Divide at Grant's Pass. This basin has no boardwalks, and extreme caution should be exercised when traveling through it Be sure to emphasize personal safety and resource protection when entering a backcountry basin There are two waterfalls that are relatively easy to get to in this region Kepler Cascades is visible from a viewing platform at a pullout south of Old Faithful along the Grand Loop Road Mystic Falls is reached via a delightful day hike that starts at the far end of the Biscuit Basin boardwalk loop It is either an easy there-and-back hike to the base of the waterfall ascending the nearby hillside for sweeping views back across the Upper Geyser Basin There are no campgrounds in the Old Faithful area there are three lodging facilities found within walking distance of Old Faithful Geyser Old Faithful Inn is the oldest of the three Old Faithful Snow Lodge is the newest lodge in the area and has both modern hotel rooms and cabins Pick a lodge that's right for you and make a reservation early Stop by the Old Faithful Visitor Education Center to explore exhibits and learn about the park's hydrothermal treasures The district is historically significant because of its rustic architecture and its role in early development of visitor accommodations Learn about opportunities to directly engage with Indigenous artists and presenters through formal and informal education Learn about the accessibility options in and around the Old Faithful area Learn more about the amazing variety of destinations in Yellowstone Plan your visit by learning about current conditions The grounds of the Deserted Village are open every day The Church/Store and Masker’s Barn are wheelchair-accessible Peter Willcocks built a sawmill along the Blue Brook to produce lumber which would be needed by farmers as they settled this frontier area The sawmill operation cleared hundreds of acres of forest David Felt bought 760 acres of land and built a printing factory along the brook He built an entire village on the bluff above the brook to support the mill operation other business ventures were tried here but failed and the village became deserted for a short time Warren Ackerman bought the property and converted the former mill town into a summer resort The popularity of mountain resorts waned as the Jersey shore gained popularity Soon after the Union County Park System was formed in 1921 this area was incorporated into the Watchung Reservation — one of America’s first county parks This unique historic resource is listed on both the State and National Registers of Historic Places the preservation of this village could not have been accomplished without support and funding from the Union County Open Space Recreation & Historic Preservation Trust Fund; the New Jersey Historic Trust; and other contributors More than $6.5 million has gone towards building infrastructure and stabilizing and renovating the historic buildings Masker’s Barn and the Church/Store are the cornerstones of the Deserted Village restoration project enabling preservation of additional buildings and use of them by the general public House #7 has been stabilized and ongoing work is in progress on House #4 For the safety of pets and enjoyment of this area visitors are asked to adhere to the County ordinance that dogs be restrained by a leash Please do not walk onto the porch of any house in the village Some of the houses here are inhabited; others have structurally weak porches Interpretive panels are located throughout the Deserted Village Union County received an Achievement Award from the National Association of Counties (NACo) for the panels Culture and Historic Preservation of the county This walking tour will help you understand the history of the village the tour starts and ends in the parking lot just off Glenside Avenue See the map for orientation and tour stops A brochure providing this walking tour is usually available at the brown kiosks (one in the parking lot just off Glenside Avenue, the other just past the Church/Store). The Walking Tour also appears below. The Walking Tour brochure can also be downloaded here Walk down Cataract Hollow Road to the first bridle trail crossing and turn left onto that trail.Then turn right onto the first hiking trail and follow it to the village cemetery Then turn right onto the first hiking trail and follow it to the village cemetery The first known colonial settler of this area was Peter Willcocks an Englishman who moved to this area around 1720 from Long Island Peter built a dam across the Blue Brook to harness the brook’s water to power a saw mill which he constructed Clearing trees from the surrounding forest Willcocks produced lumber that was sold to settlers developing farms in the surrounding frontier countryside In the fields created by the removal of trees the Willcocks family farmed the land for the next century Of the five headstones seen in this cemetery today The others were placed here in the 1960s to replace missing stones None of the headstones stand over the actual grave of the person named Two of the headstones are for the same person It is believed that about two dozen people were buried here in the Willcocks family plot a headstone commemorates Phebe Badgley Willcocks who met and married Peter Willcocks while both were living on Long Island When she and Peter moved here to the second Watchung Mountain her brothers and sisters came with them and settled in an area on the First Watchung Mountain which today is the Scout Camping area near Trailside Nature & Science Center The old stone bears a fairly typical Puritan-influenced design called the “death’s head” by archaeologists This style originated in New England and is typical of 17th- and 18th-century tombstones throughout the Northeast Although the dates on the stones seem to indicate that Phebe and her son died on the same day it is currently believed that Phebe died in June of 1776 but her death was not recorded until after her son John’s death He served in the New Jersey militia and is thought to have been mortally wounded during the retreat of General George Washington’s army from Fort Lee back to Cataract Hollow Road.Turn left and walk down the road to the first house (House #1) David Felt owned a stationery business in New York City with a store in Manhattan and a factory in Brooklyn he began buying up property here from Peter Willcocks’s descendants in order to establish another factory Felt built a mill down along the Blue Brook two dams to supply water power for his mill and an entire town here on the bluff to house all of the people who would work in that mill Like many of his contemporaries in the Unitarian church David Felt approached life with a desire to better the lot of his employees and peers in contrast with urban industrial cities like Paterson Felt’s workers here had relatively spacious accommodations Some of these structures are now only visible as archaeological remains The building in front of you was built to serve as the office for Felt’s business this building was only two-thirds its current size after its use changed from commercial to residential As with all of the buildings here in Feltville using one’s imagination is needed to visualize the buildings as they were first built in 1845 without the large porches and roof dormers added later Continue walking down Cataract Hollow Road to the next building the Church/Store (Visitor Center)._ This building was built by David Felt to serve as the general store for his mill town Six-hundred acres of fields around this site were being farmed Harvested crops were sold to village residents at this store The mill workers were presumably also able to buy meat from livestock that Felt raised as well as the fruits of his apple and peach orchards it is interesting to note that bone remains from the meals of some of Felt’s workers (recovered from a privy excavated in 1999) indicate that meat was more often obtained through local hunting and fishing; and contemporary descriptions of the village discuss gardens surrounding each of the workers’ houses a Post Office was established inside this building as well David Felt ran Feltville with a beneficent but stern hand earning himself the paternalistic nickname “King David.” Village residents were required to attend religious services each week in a church on the second floor of this building but were allowed to worship and practice religion in accordance with their own beliefs Felt provided a minister of varying denominations each week to conduct the services and eventually hired a non-denominational minister to remain in full-time residence Children were taught in a one-room schoolhouse which stood in the area that is now the parking lot at the top of Cataract Hollow Road It is important to note that an average 12-year-old in a working-class family during Felt’s time was immediately recruited into domestic or factory labor Felt’s free school and his provision of a liberal house of worship demonstrate that he was concerned to an unusual degree with the social welfare of his employees’ families the steeple (or belfry) seen here today did not yet exist during the period when this building was being used as a church This building was the subject of the Village’s first full-scale restoration project Continue your walk down Cataract Hollow Road.Stop at the split-rail fence just as the road begins to curve to the right archaeologists from Montclair State University’s Center for Archaeological Studies uncovered the foundation of David Felt’s residence Formerly described as a ‘mansion,’ Felt’s humble abode was no larger than any of the workers’ houses in the village Walk about 100 yards and stop at the next intersection._ The road to your left (south) is called the Lower Road and the area including the four standing buildings is The Commons This was the main block of housing for Felt’s managers it was the middle-class section of the village In addition to the four houses you see now there were four others here which have since been torn down or had burned All of the cottages were connected by gravel-lined walkways running between the back and front porches Archaeological work showed that artifacts recovered from these walkways were created and used in the late 19th century during the site’s later Glenside resort phase while artifacts recovered below those date from Felt’s time archaeologists learned that people living in the eastern portion of Feltville were generally better able to afford fashionable housewares such as porcelain and whiteware than those living further west Each side had its own entrance and staircase Fireplaces on the ground floor of all of the houses were set back-to-back against a central chimney With about 175 residents living in Feltville by 1850 and only 11 total buildings in which to house them there were probably four families living in each of these larger houses and two families in each of the three smaller houses that you will see further down the road Feltville thrived for 15 years under the paternalistic control of David Felt he sold Feltville to Amasa Foster and returned to New York City Why Felt decided to sell his business and property in New Jersey at that time is not entirely clear Some speculate that his decision was tied to the failing health of his brother who had been managing the affairs in New York Felt had sold most of his business and was filing for bankruptcy ownership of the property here changed hands six times Several business ventures were initiated here at various times and for a while the former mill town may have been abandoned During this time it became known as the Deserted Village Feltville was purchased at public auction by Warren Ackerman Ackerman converted Feltville into a summer resort and renamed it Glenside Park All of the former workers’ dwellings were renovated Dormers were added to the roofs of the larger houses to make the second-story spaces more livable Adirondack-style cedar posts and railings were constructed giving each building its own unique appearance for the first time Proceed further along Cataract Hollow Road to the dip in the road where a bridle trail and stone wall turn off to the left Stop here to read this text (or walk down the bridle trail to see the Blue Brook and the site of the former mill at the bottom of this hill At the base of this hill was the 3½-story mill that had been the center of life in Feltville Water routed from a dam upstream flowed through a raceway and over a waterwheel on the side of the mill The turning of the wheel generated twelve horsepower and was used to operate presses Felt’s operation produced all types of business stationery Finished products were transported to Felt’s store in New York by Conestoga wagon Ackerman also was involved in raising fancy cattle He used Felt’s vacant mill as a stable for his cattle and built this road as a way to move his cattle up to the former farm fields for grazing after it was deemed to have become a safety hazard stopping in front of the 3rd small cottage (House #12)_ the interiors of these three small cottages were divided down the middle The 1850 federal Census suggests that each of these cottages housed from six to twelve people although their size is smaller than the other houses House #12 gives us the best glimpse of a true mill worker’s house with both of the original entry doors still intact The back yards of these cottages have revealed many interesting archaeological features walkways corresponding with those of The Commons area located between the two westernmost cottages During the conversion from mill town to summer resort the interior partitions were opened up to convert these buildings into single-family dwellings A water supply and a steam laundry were constructed at a spring-fed pond further out along this road Electric lights were installed along the resort streets residents of the village no longer needed oil lamps and chamber pots so such items were taken into the back yards and dumped into the no-longer-used privy has a vault constructed of loosely laid basalt without mortar It was very poorly maintained (one of its walls partly collapsed in the 19th century and was never repaired) and perhaps never cleaned since the artifacts within it represented every time period of the village’s occupation Continue along Cataract Hollow Road a short distance to its end at Masker’s Barn._ Many of the summer resort visitors here were from New York A barn was built here in 1882 to house horses and carriages which would be used to transport businessmen to the train station at Murray Hill and thence by train to their jobs in Manhattan while their families stayed behind to enjoy resort life visitors could participate in many activities Glenside guests could dine at an inn established in one of the houses The advent of the automobile permitted former patrons to travel further away from their homes especially to the developing Jersey Shore area the property was purchased by the newly-formed Union County Park Commission and incorporated into the Watchung Reservation The Park Commission began to rent out the houses An Outdoor Education Center operated here and used several of the houses as classrooms until it closed in 1984 This site was listed on the State and National Registers of Historic Places in 1980 Stabilization work was performed on all of the buildings in 1992 using a New Jersey Historic Trust grant Another Trust grant and funding from the Union County Open Space Recreation and Historic Preservation Trust Fund enabled the restoration and rehabilitation of Masker’s Barn walk back uphill on Cataract Hollow Road.– The Deserted Village is one of more than 30 historic sites across Union County open to the public on the third weekend in October as part of the “Four Centuries in a Weekend” program view exhibits in the Visitor Center (Church/Store) “Haunted Hayrides” also take place at the Deserted Village in October offering a fun mix of historical narrative Tickets usually go on sale in mid-September Find information about all County programs on the Union County website: www.ucnj.org Masker’s Barn is available to be rented for events.Find photos, rates and reservation information here. Contact Us Organizational Chart Oak Hollow and the rest of North Grove Campground opens May 15th and may be reserved Get directions through Google Maps Trail work is planned in the North Grove from 6/19/25-6/28/25 Expect a closure around sign post #21 (Pioneer's Cabin Tree) and the trail to become two out-and-back trails instead of a loop We will update this banner with any new information Welcome to Calaveras Big Trees State Park. Established in 1931 Calaveras Big Trees State Park preserves a mixed conifer forest with two groves of giant sequoias - the North Grove and South Grove and trails throughout the park allow you to discover the area that has awed visitors since 1852 Planning your trip? The park closes the Walter W Smith Parkway road every first significant snowfall or December 1st This closes vehicle access to the Stanislaus River and South Grove areas The road reopens May 1st or later if there is still snow. All areas in the park are open in the summer Weather Station Interpretation & Education Office: (209) 795-7980 Email: calaverasbigtreessp@parks.ca.gov Large Bus Day Use – $100   Sign up to receive the latest State Parks news directly to your email Have a question? Use the Contact Us Page. © Copyright document.write(new Date().getFullYear()); West Thumb Geyser Basin is the largest geyser basin on the shores of Yellowstone Lake The heat source of the hydrothermal features in this location is thought to be relatively close to the surface—only 10,000 feet (3000 m) down The West Thumb of Yellowstone Lake was formed by a large volcanic explosion that occurred approximately 174,000 years ago. The resulting collapsed volcano later filled with water forming an extension of Yellowstone Lake The West Thumb is about the same size as another famous volcanic caldera but much smaller than the great Yellowstone Caldera which formed 600,000 years ago It is interesting to note that West Thumb is a caldera within a caldera Ring fractures formed as the magma chamber bulged up under the surface of the earth and subsequently cracked This created the source of heat for the West Thumb Geyser Basin today The hydrothermal features at West Thumb are found not only on the lake shore but extend under the surface of the lake as well Several underwater geysers were discovered in the early 1990s and can be seen as slick spots or slight bulges in the summer the underwater thermal features are visible as melt holes in the icy surface of the lake The ice averages about three feet thick during the winter Large volcanic eruptions have occurred in Yellowstone on an approximate interval of 600,000 years. Part of this caldera is the 136-square mile (352-square km) basin of Yellowstone Lake The original lake was 200 feet (61 m) higher than the present-day lake extending northward across Hayden Valley to the base of Mount Washburn Members of the 1870 Washburn party noted that Yellowstone Lake was shaped like "a human hand with the fingers extended and spread apart as much as possible," with the large west bay representing the thumb the Hayden Survey used the name West Arm for the bay Norris' maps of 1880 and 1881 used West Bay or Thumb park personnel attempted to change the name back to West Arm The shoreline of West Thumb is the location of several Native American hearth sites providing evidence that native peoples once used this area as a travel route Fire plays a natural role in the ecosystems of Yellowstone National Park The Grant Visitor Center hosts an exhibit that interprets fire's role in the environment accessible via dirt roads outside of the park with the lowest visitation and a wetter environment than the rest of the park This is an ideal location for those with an adventurous spirit and a desire to hike and backcountry camp the West Thumb Information Station is an excellent example of historic architecture associated with ranger stations in Yellowstone this facility serves as the West Thumb Warming Hut read interpretive exhibits on history and a variety of winter topics and get their questions answered by an Interpretive staff person Grant Village is a developed area in the park with both a hotel-style lodge and a large campground with lots of amenities Lewis Lake campground provides a little more rustic camping experience Backcountry camping is also available for those looking to stay overnight at one of the park's primitive backcountry campsites Plan a night in one of twelve park campgrounds Enjoy the solitude of more than 300 backcountry campsites Yellowstone Lake resembles the shape of a human hand; West Thumb is the large western bay that would be the thumb It was formed by a volcanic eruption approximately 174,000 years ago The resulting caldera later filled with water West Thumb is also the largest geyser basin on the shore of Yellowstone Lake—and its hydrothermal features lie under the lake too The heat from these features can melt ice on the lake's surface Early visitors would arrive at West Thumb via stagecoach from the Old Faithful area They could continue on the stagecoach or board the steamship "Zillah" to reach the Lake Hotel They were removed in the 1980s to protect the hydrothermal features and improve visitor experience Grant Village now provides most of these facilities and a bookstore and information station in the historic ranger station In addition to the bears that frequent this area in spring elk cows and their new calves are often seen here in May and June Bald eagles and osprey dive into the bay to catch cutthroat trout River otters pop in and out of holes in the ice Coyotes and bald eagles eat their fish scraps Learn more about this geyser basin on the edge of Yellowstone Lake Hikes in the south part of the park reward hikers with spectacular lake views Learn about accessibility options in the West Thumb Stop by this small information station at the West Thumb Geyser Basin for information or a ranger program extending northward across Hayden Valley to the base of Mt Soil temperatures increased to nearly 200°F (93°C) Hayden Valley is located six miles north of Fishing Bridge Junction and Pelican Valley is situated three miles to the east of the junction. These two vast valleys comprise some of the best habitat in the lower 48 states for viewing wildlife like grizzly bears Hayden Valley was once filled by an arm of Yellowstone Lake. Therefore, 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 Hayden Valley is marshy and has little encroachment of trees Remember: Do not approach or encircle bears or wolves on foot within 100 yards (91 m) or other wildlife within 25 yards (23 m) park visitors are injured by wildlife when approaching too closely Located just south of Bridge Bay Campground it is an easy one-mile walk to the Natural Bridge There is also a bicycle trail leading to the bridge The Natural Bridge was formed by erosion of the rhyolite outcrop by Bridge Creek The top of the bridge is approximately 51 feet (16 m) above the creek though travel across the bridge is prohibited to protect this feature This region has four options for staying overnight in Yellowstone: Lake Hotel and Cabins The lake is home to the largest population of Yellowstone cutthroat trout in North America You can see these trout and longnose suckers from Fishing Bridge you might be able to see trout leaping upstream at LeHardy's Rapids and a variety of ducks and other water birds including Pelican Valley to the north and east is especially significant to bears and other wildlife because lake and terrestrial ecosystems merge here to create a diverse natural complex Bears visit numerous streams in the spring and early summer to eat spawning trout and individuals can be seen throughout the area Moose used to be seen in the Yellowstone Lake area much more than they are today; look along water edges and in marshes Discover the opportunities available in the Lake area by stopping by this historic visitor center Be a responsible angler and understand the regulations before you come Hikes in this area provide views of Yellowstone Lake and the surrounding mountains Learn about the accessibility options in the Lake area Be sure to read the site details when making a reservation on recreation.gov to ensure your equipment will fit into the site you're reserving. You can also find answers to frequently asked questions about length limits and site types or call the Big Oak Flat campground office at 209/379-2123 Download a map showing all campgrounds in Yosemite National Park [2 MB PDF] Heated by geothermal processes and emerging at 105° F. the water carries dissolved mineral salts reputed to have healing powers The therapeutic value of heat has long been touted as a remedy of both body and soul Be aware that some hot springs can burn you either with the scalding effects of heat or the caustic nature of the water chemistry Use caution when bathing and limit the exposure of children to the warm waters Walk on boardwalks above the steaming hydrothermal features or take a drive around the vibrant travertine terraces ski or snowshoe among the whiffs of sulfur along the Upper Terraces Watch the Mammoth Hot Springs terraces webcam Many trails into Yellowstone's wilderness begin in the Mammoth Hot Springs area Plan a short day or extended hike with our day hiking guide which feature hikes selected by park rangers and other emergency equipment when venturing into the backcountry Be sure to obtain current trail condition and bear activity information at the Albright Visitor Center Bunsen Peak may be climbed via a trail that starts at the Golden Gate skirts around the flank of the peak from the Youth Conservation Corps camp to the Golden Gate The Heritage and Research Center in Gardiner Montana is a state-of-the-art facility that is home to Yellowstone's museum collection Visit the small rotating exhibit in the lobby or plan ahead and take a behind-the-scenes guided tour Tours are generally available twice a week from June to September; reservations are strongly recommended the year-round Mammoth Campground and the seasonal Indian Creek Campground Additional lodging options can be found in the nearby town of Gardiner The Mammoth area exhibits much evidence of glacial activity from the Pinedale Glaciation The summit of Terrace Mountain is covered with glacial till thereby dating the travertine formation there to earlier than the end of the Pinedale Glaciation are major features of the developed areas of Mammoth Hot Springs Ice-marginal stream beds are in evidence in the small narrow valleys where Floating Island Lake and Phantom Lake are found sorted gravel bed of the Gardner River covered by unsorted glacial till The first major entrance for Yellowstone was at the north boundary. Before 1903, trains would bring visitors to Cinnabar, Montana which was a few miles northwest of Gardiner and people would climb onto horse-drawn coaches there to enter the park and mule deer frequent the grasslands around the north entrance of the park The North Entrance Road up to Mammoth Hot Springs runs along the Gardner River The road winds up the Gardner River canyon past crumbling walls of sandstone and ancient mudflows The vegetation is much thicker in the canyon than on the open prairie down below the common trees being Rocky Mountain juniper Low-growing willows also crowd the river's edge in the flatter and kingfishers can be spotted along the river while bighorn sheep climb along the steeper parts of the canyon while bison can often been seen along the road out to Tower–Roosevelt Three waterfalls are easy to visit in this region or take a short 1/2-mile (0.8-km) hike to the long Driving south of Mammoth Hot Springs through the Golden Gate will lead you right past Rustic Falls a splendid little falls especially in the spring Both of them are open only during the summer season with Blacktail Plateau Drive opening the latest due to being in a bear management area one-mile (1.6-km) loop drive with a few parking areas along the way The drive leads you to views of the Main Terraces of Mammoth Hot Springs views of Fort Yellowstone and the Gardner River and right up to hydrothermal features like Orange Spring Mound six-mile (9.7-km) one-way road that meanders through alpine forests and meadows It provides a more rustic way to travel to Tower–Roosevelt and gives opportunities to see wildlife and take in the beautiful alpine scenery Learn about wildlife and get park information at this visitor center located near the North Entrance Learn about Mammoth Hot Springs' historical district including the Roosevelt Arch The trails around Mammoth Hot Springs have a full range of difficultly and environments to explore Learn about the accessibility options in the Mammoth Hot Springs area Discover the skiing and snowshoeing opportunities around Mammoth Hot Springs Discover the highlights of Yellowstone's vast 2.2 million acres A sign north of where the road crosses the Gardner River marks the 45th parallel of latitude The 45th parallel is an imaginary line that circles the globe halfway between the equator and the North Pole This same line passes through Minneapolis-St and the northern tip of the Japanese islands the majority of the Montana/Wyoming state line does not follow the 45th parallel through the park Center City becomes holiday central each year when the Christmas Village in Philadelphia sets up shop This annual tradition transforms Philadelphia’s iconic LOVE Park as well as the courtyard and north apron of City Hall 120 rustic wooden cottages trimmed in festive lights and housing vendors of every variety guests peruse gift-able goods from around the world while enjoying events and live entertainment (with cups of hot cocoa or warm mulled wine in hand) a gorgeous collection of holiday trees inspires wonder the City Hall extension of Christmas Village features more vendors and a double-decker carousel in the building’s courtyard families can find the return of the ever-popular Ferris wheel The 2024 Christmas Village in Philadelphia takes place from November 28 through December 24 with a preview weekend on November 23 and 24 Inspired by Europe’s centuries-old tradition of open-air Christmas markets and brought to life by a team from Germany, Christmas Village in Philadelphia is a beloved a German beer garden with exclusive local craft beer live entertainment and a full schedule of events including visits from Kris Kringle himself In the courtyard at City Hall: a double-decker carousel and more vendors Even more: Both the 65-foot-tall (!) illuminated Ferris wheel and Kids Train join the market’s attention-grabbing holiday tree again on the North Broad end of City Hall to the delight of families The littlest market-goers can also look forward to other fun surprises like face painting balloon animals and special appearances by the attraction’s official mascot Back on the LOVE Park side of the market, the Festival of Trees (December 5 to 24 2024) overlooks the market happenings from inside the Visitors Center at LOVE Park affectionately known as the “flying saucer.” Duck inside to warm up a bit admiring the holiday trees trimmed by expert decorators Over 120 vendors offer their signature wares and holiday merch throughout the Christmas Village Vendors range from local crafters to world-famous ornament makers like Käthe Wohlfahrt Can’t get enough shopping? The Made in Philadelphia Holiday Market — 100 feet away at Dilworth Park — features 40 more jewelers all peddling holiday-inspired goods (November 15 the beloved Center City tradition sees a few new additions for 2024 Even more information, including vendor lists and food menus, is yet to come, so be sure to keep an eye on the official website Entry to Christmas Village is completely free Conveniently located in the heart of Center City (and near plenty of top Philly holiday attractions) Christmas Village is one of the easiest attractions to get to via public transportation The PhilLY PHLASH even has a designated stop at the market Those looking to drive can find also several public garages and surface lots located near Christmas Village offering paid parking For more about Christmas Village in Philadelphia It’s a holly jolly holiday in the Greater Philadelphia region all season long so don’t let the magic end at the Christmas Village For a complete guide to all the must-see holiday attractions in Philadelphia and the Countryside The Visit Philly Overnight Package — booked more than 190,000 times since 2001 — comes with free hotel parking (worth up to $100 in Center City Philadelphia) overnight hotel accommodations and choose-your-own-adventure perks Big Bend National Park is a great place to observe a wide variety of bird life With over 450 bird species documented in the park What is the best time of year for birding in Big Bend It depends on what bird you are looking for Find out how you can contribute to our knowledge of birds inspiration and education of the people of California by helping to preserve the state's extraordinary biological diversity protecting its most valued natural and cultural resources and creating opportunities for high-quality outdoor recreation California State Parks continues to address interpretive programs and exhibits in California’s State Park System that fall short of fully contextualizing the state’s history The department is working with Native American Tribal Nations and the public to ensure that educational programs and exhibits support public educational standards and are grounded in contemporary research methodology Our new reservation system improves service delivery to our visitors online and in our park units You’ll be able to explore California’s outdoor recreational opportunities in a more modern way via interactive maps and other online tools Are you a frequent visitor to a favorite state park or love to sample the beauty of the state from north to south A California State Parks Annual Pass may be for you Our Annual Passes offer something for everyone Please visit our passes page for additional information this site sells California State Parks passes We have an easier way to Find a Park by simply choosing the first letter of the name by a region within the State or by a specific city Stay up to date on the latest news and announcements from California State Parks Making sure that everyone - including visitors with disabilities - has access to the natural and cultural wonders that make up California State Parks Click locations on the map to find the latest National Weather Service forecast for that point. You can also view a general forecast for Yosemite National Park. interactive information about current weather and air quality conditions; all on one site CONTACT THE POLICE:  440.331.5530 EMERGENCY:  440.333.4911 Daytime: 10am-5pm (Apr-Oct)Daytime: 10am-4pm (Nov-Mar) with the standard interval being 94 minutes ± 10 minutes The geyser averages an eruption of 130 feet (40 m) and expelling 3,700–8,400 gallons (14,000–31,800 L) of water water temperatures have been recorded at 203°F (95.6°C) which is above the boiling point of water at this elevation This is not the only hydrothermal feature to see in the area Old Faithful is just one of hundreds of hydrothermal features in the area known as the Upper Geyser Basin There are 150 geysers—4 more predictable ones—within one square mile An extensive trail and boardwalk system provides up-close views of many of these features and connects to nearby Black Sand Basin and Biscuit Basin Six miles north of the Old Faithful area is a small hydrothermal basin known as Midway Geyser Basin This is the home of Grand Prismatic Spring Yellowstone's largest hot spring and one of the most colorful features on earth Grand Prismatic Spring is 200–330 feet (61–100 m) in diameter and more than 121 feet (36.8 m) deep The wide variety of colors comes from thermophiles organisms that live in high-temperature environments Each band of color is a different collection of thermophiles Some thermophiles have specific ranges of temperatures they can live in so the colors also represent different ranges of water temperature Excelsior Geyser Crater is the other major feature in the area Excelsior Geyser blew itself up and now is a 200 x 300 foot (61 x 91.4 m) hot spring sitting in a crater It discharges an impressive amount of water—more than 4,000 gallons (15,142 L) of water per minute This huge canyon is roughly 20 miles (32 km) long and 1,500–4,000 feet (457–1,219 m) wide at various points Scientists continue to develop theories about its formation lava flows and volcanic tuffs buried this area Hydrothermal gases and hot water weakened the rock carving a canyon from Tower Fall all the way to the Lower Falls The reds are caused by oxidation of iron compounds in the rhyolite rock that has been hydrothermal altered ("cooked") The yellows are the result of iron and sulfur in the rock are travertine terraces built by hot springs gentle hydrothermal features are collectively called the Mammoth Hot Springs Travertine terraces build here because of the underlying limestone Hot water dissolves the limestone and deposits the mineral at the surface to form the terraces come from thermophiles living in the hot water Also in the area is a collection of older buildings that made up Fort Yellowstone where the US Army was based from 1891 to 1913 the historic structures are the headquarters for the park as well as home to the Albright Visitor Center it is believed that this geyser basin is connected to the caldera's associated ring of fractures and faults Norris (the second superintendent of the park) is considered the hottest geyser basin in the park Norris Geyser Basin is home to Steamboat Geyser shooting water and steam more than 300 feet (91 m) into the air during a major eruption Norris Geyser Basin has many acidic hydrothermal features all the colors are due to combinations of minerals and thermophiles Silica or clay minerals saturate acidic water to give them a milky white appearance and cyanobacteria create red-orange colors Mats of yet another thermophile appear purple to black when exposed to sun Even sulfur is present to give pale yellow hues West Thumb is named because it sticks out of Yellowstone Lake a bit like a thumb sticking out of a hand The West Thumb of Yellowstone Lake was formed by a volcanic eruption about 174,000 years ago that formed a small caldera West Thumb Geyser Basin is the largest geyser basin on the shore of Yellowstone Lake—and its hydrothermal features lie under the lake West Thumb Geyser Basin is home to some interesting hydrothermal features—Fishing Cone (a historic geyser that is only known to have erupted in 1919 and 1939) Black Pool (a hot spring 35–40 feet (11–12 m) deep) and Abyss Pool (a hot spring about 53 feet (16 m) deep) Fort Yellowstone was constructed by the US Army 35 structures remain from the time when the US Army administered the park The Yellowstone Caldera was created by a massive volcanic eruption about 630,000 years ago Later lava flows filled in much of the caldera Both the size and the amount of fill in the caldera make it a challenge to see The rim can best be seen from the Washburn Hot Springs overlook (south of Dunraven Pass) During the eruption that formed the Yellowstone Caldera an estimated 240 miles3 (1,000 km3) of material was ejected from the ground Helens that blew the top and side off the mountain ejected 0.1 miles3 (0.4 km3) of material—less than 0.04% of Yellowstone's last major eruption The definition of a supervolcano is a volcano capable of eruptions of more than 240 miles3 (1,000 km3) of material Yellowstone's supervolcano is fueled by a hot spot in the earth's mantle that causes magma to be closer to the surface than normal Yellowstone Lake is natural and has 131.7 square miles (341.1 km2) of surface area and stretches roughly 20 miles (32 km) long by 14 miles (22 km) wide It also has 141 miles (227 km) of shoreline though it averages a depth of 138 feet (42 m) the lake's basin has an estimated capacity of 12,095,264 acre–feet (1.5x1013 L) of water Because the annual outflow of water is about 1,100,000 acre–feet (1.3x1012 L) the lake's water is completely replaces only about every eight to ten years the annual water level fluctuation has been less than six feet (2 m) It is the largest lake at high elevation (above 7,000 feet / 2,134 m) in North America The lake's main basin is part of the Yellowstone Caldera The arms of the lake were formed by uplift along fault lines and sculpting by glaciers it actually starts outside of the park on the slopes of Younts Peak in the part of the Absaroka Mountains southeast of the park The Yellowstone River flows 671 miles (1,080 km) to the Missouri River the waters travel to the Mississippi River and on out to the Gulf of America and the Atlantic Ocean The Yellowstone River is considered the longest undammed river in the contiguous (lower 48) United States of America The Yellowstone River flow through the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone River dropping down into the canyon via two main waterfalls: Upper Falls and Lower Falls The Upper Falls drop 109 feet (33 m) and the Lower Falls drop 308 feet (94 m) The flow rate of the Yellowstone River varies seasonally with a low of 5,000 gallons (18,900 L) per second in the late fall and a high of up to 63,500 gallons (240,000 L) per second at peak runoff in the spring wide-open valley in the northeast part of the park Glaciers from about 21,000 years ago carved out the Lamar Valley as well as forming a dam that caused the valley to fill with water catastrophic floods from water released here helped shape the modern landscape around the North Entrance you can see evidence of the glacial activity in the shape of the valley as well as huge boulders and ponds left dotting the landscape The Lamar River flows through the valley in a meandering pattern Besides the dramatic mountain and valley views the Lamar Valley is home to the Lamar Buffalo Ranch The extermination of bison throughout the west in the 1800s nearly eliminated them from Yellowstone As part of the first effort to preserve a wild species through intensive management these bison were fed and bred in Lamar Valley at what became known as the Lamar Buffalo Ranch bison were released to breed with the park’s free-roaming population Bison from the ranch were also used to start and supplement herds on other public and tribal land Hayden Valley is covered with glacial till left from the most recent glacial retreat The valley also has a variety of glacial and ice-water contact deposits This glacial till contains many different grain sizes including clay and a thin layer of lake sediments that do not allow water to percolate quickly into the ground Hayden Valley has historically been the major location of the bison rut (mating season) though recent trends have seen the herds move north to the Lamar Valley Grizzly and black bears are often seen in the spring and early summer Coyotes and wolves are also seen in the valley On the south end of Hayden Valley is Mud Volcano a hydrothermal area rich in features that let off a "rotten egg" smell gives the features their many shades of gray Obsidian is found in volcanic areas where the magma is rich in silica and lava has cooled without forming crystals creating a black glass that can be honed to an exceptionally thin edge which occurs as small rocks strewn amid other formations Obsidian Cliff has an exposed vertical thickness of about 98 feet (30 m) Obsidian was first quarried from this cliff for tool-making more than 11,000 years ago it is the United States' most widely dispersed source of obsidian by hunter-gatherers It was gradually spread along trade routes from Western Canada to Ohio Obsidian Cliff is the primary source of obsidian in a large concentration of Midwestern sites including about 90% of obsidian found in Hopewell mortuary sites in the Ohio River Valley (from about 1,850–1,750 years ago) The Gallatin Mountains are a mountain range in the northwest part of the park The highest peak of the range is Electric Peak at 10,969 feet (3,343 m) and sits inside the park boundary near the town of Gardiner The range runs about 75 miles (121 km) from Bozeman One of the best views of the Gallatin Mountains is from Swan Lake Flat a high-elevation valley south of Mammoth Hot Springs Another panoramic view of the range can be had from the top of Bunsen Peak The range is also visible from Blacktail Plateau as you head back west toward Mammoth Hot Springs The Gallatin Mountains inside the park include peaks like Mount Holmes the Absaroka Mountains run all the way from beyond the northern boundary to beyond the southern boundary—some 150 miles (240 km) in all Some of the most dramatic mountain scenes in the park can be seen in the northeast area and Mount Norris all giving daunting views of sheer cliffs and razor-edged ridges The high point in the park is found in the southern stretch of the Absaroka Mountains‡mdash;Eagle Peak at 11,358 feet (3,462 m) Near Eagle Peak are other prominent mountains All of these peaks form the eastern edge of Yellowstone Lake The southeast corner of the park is some of the most remote land left in the lower 48 of the United States of America The Thorofare part of the park is where the Yellowstone River first flows into the park on its way to the Yellowstone River The Thorofare is also a major migration path for elk moving between the park and lands to the south The US Army constructed backcountry cabins and snowshoe cabins to provide facilities for troops patrolling for poachers The Thorofare Patrol Cabin is one such cabin The roof extends out 10 feet (3 m) to form a covered porch with a wood deck and support posts at each corner Yellowstone National Park is a large park at 2.2 million acres (890,308 ha) in size Death Valley National Monument in California is larger at 3.4 million acres (1.3 million ha) more than half of Alaska's national parks are larger including the largest park of them all—Wrangell–St Elias National Park and Preserve at a whopping 13.2 million acres (5.3 million ha) The West Entrance into Yellowstone is the busiest entrance into the park—receiving about as many visitors as the next two entrances (North and South) combined It is located on the edge of the town of West Yellowstone The West Entrance to the park leads you through the Madison Valley where the Madison River cuts through lava flows as it heads out of the park The South Entrance is located nearest Grand Teton National Park and the John D This entrance leads visitors along the Lewis River and past Lewis Lake on the way to the West Thumb of Yellowstone Lake The East Entrance of the park is accessed by visitors traveling from Cody the road beyond the East Entrance climbs up through the Absaroka Mountains to Sylvan Pass where it then heads down toward the northeastern shore of Yellowstone Lake The quietest of Yellowstone's five entrances the Northeast Entrance is also quite historic The entrance station was constructed in 1935 in a rustic style emblematic of national park architecture This architecture “subconsciously reinforced the visitor’s sense of the western frontier.. but the psychological boundary between the rest of the world and what was set aside as a permanently wild place.” Visitors entering the park from this direction pass through the steep Absaroka Mountains while following the Soda Butte Creek as it flows down to the Lamar River this is the only entrance that is open year-round The historic Roosevelt Arch (named after President Theodore Roosevelt who dedicated the arch by laying the cornerstone in 1903) is 50 feet (15 m) high and built using local columnar basalt Within the arch is engraved the iconic statement "For the benefit and enjoyment of the people." The road leading into the park from this entrance leads visitors along the Gardner River and up nearly 1,000 feet (305 m) to Fort Yellowstone and Mammoth Hot Springs Personalize your online adventure of the world's first national park Below you'll find information about just a few of the numerous viewpoints around Yosemite National Park Don't limit yourself to these viewpoints; whenever you see a turnout with an interesting view pull into the turnout and take a look around--you never know what you might discover The Yellowstone fires of 1988 have been described as being instrumental in the public’s understanding of the role of fire in ecosystems park managers and fire behavior specialists allowed 18 lightning-caused fires to burn after evaluating them Eleven of these fires burned themselves out behaving as many fires had in previous years Park managers and fire behavior specialists expected that July would be wet no new natural fires were allowed to burn after July 15 except those started adjacent to existing fires that were clearly going to burn into existing fires within a week the fire acreage in the park doubled to about 17,000 acres all fires—including those started naturally—were fully suppressed as staffing would allow (Human-caused fires had been suppressed from the beginning.) An extensive interagency fire suppression effort was initiated in mid-July in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem in an attempt to control or contain this unprecedented series of wildfires dry fuel accumulations presented even the most skilled professional firefighters with conditions rarely observed Fire fighting efforts were directed at controlling the flanks of fires and protecting lives and property in their paths The fire experts on site generally agreed that only rain or snow could stop the fires They were right: one-quarter inch of snow on September 11 stopped the advance of the fires 9th Biennial Scientific Conference on the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem plans were already underway in Yellowstone to develop comprehensive programs for all aspects of post-fire response Scientists wanted to monitor the ecological processes following these major fires The National Park Service cooperated with other agencies and independent researchers and institutions in developing comprehensive research directions for this unparalleled scientific opportunity Observations actually began while the fires were still burning the fires killed many lodgepole pines and other trees but did not kill most other plants; they merely burned the tops Temperatures high enough to kill deep roots occurred in less than 0.1% of the park Only under logs and in deep litter accumulations where the fire was able to burn for several hours did lethal heat penetrate more deeply into the soil and other reproductive tissues had to wait until soil moisture was replenished the following spring Though animal movements were sometimes affected dramatically by the passage of fires which affected winter survival of grazing animals when coupled with summer drought conditions fires dramatically altered the habitat and food production of Yellowstone for the short term The fires of 1988 created a landscape of burns A mosaic provides natural firebreaks and sustains a greater variety of plant and animal species Vegetation capable of sustaining another major fire will be rare for decades Yellowstone National Park’s photographer established “photo points,” or specific locations to be photographed in 1988 and in subsequent years Fire plays a vital role in a functioning ecosystem and many plants have adapted to - or become dependent on - fire Learn how the park balances the benefits and threats of fire on the landscape Landmark Award The Village of Yorkville Park has become a local landmark the park has played an important role in the revitalization of the neighborhood since its completion in 1994 but its original design integrity as a distillation of regional ecology along with its role as a neighborhood connection point The idea of this urban park dates back to the late 1950s when a block of Victorian-era row houses was demolished along Cumberland Street to allow for the construction of the Bloor Danforth subway line The park sits at the cusp of two neighborhoods: the small-scale old Yorkville neighborhood with its late 19th and early 20th century row houses and the high-rise commercial core that has built up along the Bloor Street corridor since the subway opened this highly visible site remained a parking lot Activist neighbors fought to build a public place to bring the neighborhood together rather than to divide it Forestry and Recreation announced an international design competition The community wanted a park that reflected the scale and context of the neighborhood incorporated the native ecology of the surrounding region and made connections with the circulation of local streets and a system of midblock passageways The design strategy for the competition was to design the park to express the Victorian style of collecting “collecting” landscapes of Ontario — pine groves rock outcroppings and so on — and arranging them in the pattern of the nineteenth century row houses The park design creates a series of linear subdivisions with contextual alignments to the building lot lines across the street and connections to mid-block passageways in the adjoining blocks Each linear park segment is distinct in character but related to the next To anchor this space with an element of regional glacial geology a large 700-ton bedrock outcrop of native Muskoka granite was taken apart along natural crevices the outcrop has a wonderful tactile surface for sitting and absorbs warmth on cool sunny days Moveable tables and chairs next to the boulder offer a nice contrast of permanence and flexibility Yorkville’s park has played an important role in the revitalization of the neighborhood since its completion in 1994 The neighborhood has continued its redevelopment with several new high-rise buildings rising along the edge or near the park The park is owned and maintained by the City of Toronto Department of Parks The Bloor-Yorkville Business Improvement Area takes an active role in the management and programming of the park Structural Engineer: Blackwell Engineering Mechanical and Electrical Engineering: Rybka Smith and Ginsler Rock Formation Reconstruction: Amsen Associates Ltd ProductProduct Company A dramatic view of the Missouri National Recreational River awaits visitors at Mulberry Bend Overlook a short paved trail leads to two overlooks that offer views of a free flowing segment of the Missouri This portion of the river exhibits characteristics that were common hundreds of years ago but are no longer seen on the "man-made" portions of the river exhibits provide information about the national park and early American Indians who inhabited the region the surrounding forest and a flood that devastated the town of Vermillion in 1881 The paved trail rises 60 feet to the top and is wheelchair accessible to the first overlook A picnic table and vault toilet is available near the parking lot This moderately strenuous unpaved trail begins at the upper viewpoint at the end of the paved trail It is a 3/4 mile trail consisting of a loop with 2 spurs to viewpoints overlooking the river The route winds through dense bluff forest of bur oak Take South Dakota Highway 19 south from Vermillion (it becomes Nebraska Highway 15 as soon as you cross the bridge) or Nebraska Highway 15 north toward Vermillion The overlook is on the east side of the highway in Nebraska All plant identification guides are available below or by requesting an electronic version via email Access to the river at Mulberry Bend is located downriver from the Vermillion-New Castle Bridge off County Road 579 A vault toilet is available and primitive camping only is allowed To drive to this one-lane concrete boat ramp take South Dakota Highway 19 south from Vermillion (it becomes Nebraska Highway 15 as soon as you cross the bridge) or Nebraska Highway 15 north toward Vermillion until you come to Road 579 Turn onto this gravel road and continue ahead 1.9 miles until you come to the boat ramp on your left Large black boulders are strewn along several valleys that cross Capitol Reef National Park In the Fremont River Valley they cover Johnson Mesa above the campground and scatter the hillsides of Fruita The boulders are striking among the tilted red and white bands of sandstone and shale that form the Waterpocket Fold They originated in the high basalt and andesite cliffs that edge Boulder Mountain and the Thousand Lakes Mountain plateaus west of the park Geologists long thought the boulders had moved from Boulder Mountain in Ice-Age glaciers and streams that carried the rocks down valley Recent studies show that the glaciers were small and the streams lacked the power to move boulders nine feet or more in diameter such as those found around Fruita whereas rocks rolled by streams become rounded Large landslides occurred and the remains of these slides (huge chunks of basalt and andesite) mantle the slopes of Boulder and Thousand Lakes Mountains Some of the slides flowed into the heads of the Fremont and Escalante Rivers and were liquid enough to move as debris flows for tens of miles down canyons like wet cement in a chute Such dense flow can raft boulders without rounding them Some debris flows incorporated enough river water to become floods that spread boulders through Capitol Reef and farther east of the park These enormous debris flows and floods dumped their freight of boulders across broad valley floors beyond the mountains The Fremont and Escalante Rivers have since cut deeply into those valley floors The old valley floors are now mesas that are up to 600 feet (183 m) above the present river valleys Some debris flow material was reworked by the Fremont River and its tributaries River processes created well-rounded boulders within the terrace deposits The Fremont River cut through the Waterpocket Fold at a rate of approximately 30 inches (76 cm) per thousand years based on terrace dates This rate of downcutting is considered high for the Colorado Plateau but is consistent with highly elevated areas wherein the river's headlands reach alpine glaciated areas most of the visible canyon that we see today has been cut within the past 200,000 years Boulder-laden debris flows descended along the Fremont River and its southern tributaries perched 100 to 400 feet (30.5-122 m) above the modern valley floors Similar boulders that originated at Thousand Lake Mountain cap benches high above the northern valleys of the park Such benches are visible along the Hartnet Road from the Cathedral Valley Campground all the way to the Fremont River black boulders form flat benches where ancient floods emerged at the mouths of Pleasant and Oak Creek Canyons These benches are the ancient floors of these streams the creeks and the Fremont River have excavated canyons 200 feet (60.7 m) deeper into the tilted sandstone of the Waterpocket Fold Deposits of black boulders extend into Upper Cathedral Valley Just east of the park boundary along the Fremont River a prominent flat terrace is mantled by several feet of river-worn black boulders it shows that the debris flow is older than 900 years This bulletin was written by Richard Waitt of the United States Geological Survey in cooperation with the National Park Service and was updated in 2008 by geologist Tom Morris of Brigham Young University The Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone is roughly 20 miles long, measured from the Upper Falls to the Tower Fall area. The canyon was formed by erosion as Yellowstone River flowed over progressively softer The 109-foot (33.2-m) Upper Falls is upstream of the Lower Falls and can be seen from the Brink of the Upper Falls Trail and from Upper Falls Viewpoints The 308-foot (93.9-m) Lower Falls can be seen from Lookout Point and from various points on the South Rim Trail The volume of water flowing over the falls can vary from 63,500 gallons (240,374 l)/second at peak runoff in the spring to 5,000 gallons (18,927 l)/second in the autumn A third falls is located in the canyon between the Upper and Lower falls Cascade Creek cascades into the canyon as Crystal Falls It can be seen from the South Rim Trail just east of the Upper Falls Viewpoints area Hayden Valley is a great place to view wildlife Grizzly bears may be seen in the spring and early summer preying upon newborn bison and elk calves Bison are often seen in the spring all the way through the fall rut Coyotes and foxes are often seen in the valley and American white pelicans cruise the river while a variety of shore birds may be seen in the mud flats at Alum Creek Safety Tip: Do not approach or surround bears or wolves on foot within 100 yards (91 m) or other wildlife within 25 yards (23 m) Maintain a safe distance from all wildlife The Canyon Visitor Education Center is located in the Canyon Village complex, part of the Mission 66 project in Yellowstone The original visitor center was completed in 1957 and the new lodge was open for business in the same year The current visitor center features exhibits on the Yellowstone Supervolcano and provides information via rangers or real-time information displays At the top, check out interpretive exhibits inside the base of a fire lookout and enjoy the view (you can also watch views from Mount Washburn from two webcams) In addition to being a popular hiking destination Mount Washburn is one of three fire lookout stations in Yellowstone It is staffed from mid-June until the fire season ends during which time the staff watch for signs of fire This region has two options for staying overnight in Yellowstone: Canyon Lodge and Canyon Campground North Rim Drive: Walkways at Lookout Point and Brink of the Lower Falls lead to views of both waterfalls (just not both waterfalls from the same location) The longest stretch of accessible trail can be accessed from parking lots at Lookout or Grand View You can also see the Lower Falls from Red Rock and Inspiration points South Rim Drive: See the Lower Falls at Artist Point and from a few places along the South Rim Trail; see the Upper Falls from two viewpoints at Upper Falls Viewpoints Visit Brink of Upper Falls from a viewing area just off the Grand Loop Road south of Canyon Junction between the entrances to North and South Rim drives look for osprey soaring over the river or perched on their five-foot (1.5 m)-diameter nests They nest here from late April until early September a variety of butterflies feast on the abundant flowers in the meadows which begins approximately five miles (8 km) south of Canyon Junction is one of the best places in the park to view a wide variety of large mammals Grizzly bears are often seen in the spring and early summer Large herds of bison may be seen in the spring Coyotes can almost always be seen in the valley; wolves are often seen as well Mount Washburn is another excellent place for viewing wildlife Bighorn sheep and marmots can be seen on its slopes in the summer Elk and bison frequent the valley north of the mountain and geologic history shape the area's ecosystems Hike around the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone River to see mountains and canyons Discover the skiing and snowshoeing opportunities around the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone River Discover Yellowstone's accessibility resources like the NPS Mobile App Time Out Dubai Sign up to our newsletter for the latest and greatest from your city and beyond Home » News » 8 pictures of what Global Village used to look like — from 90s car park to today The history of Dubai’s favourite family day out Global Village is a bona fide Dubai institution with a (seemingly) endless number of things to eat the ultimate family day out in Dubai has grown every year to provide experiences from across the world As the park is due to close soon for summer, we’re looking back at how the park has grown to the giant 17.2 million sq ft destination we all know and love today The current version of Global Village is based at Dubailand but if you’re new to Dubai then you may well not know that Global Village has called a few different neighbourhoods home over the years The first season of Global Village in 1996 was actually held in a car park in Dubai Creek across the road from the Dubai Municipality building It started life as an add-on pop-up to encourage more inbound tourism during the emirate’s long-running Dubai Shopping Festival The first season welcomed 500,000 guests during the festival in a 50,000 square metre space with a small number of kiosks representing 10 countries a further eight country pavilions were added for the second season the spin-off from the Dubai Shopping Festival had grown significantly and needed to find a bigger space And that’s when it moved to Oud Metha near Wafi City This earlier version of the park had a cute welcome sign celebrating various countries around the world and included cartoony illustrations of famous global landmarks such as the Taj Mahal and the Pyramids of Giza the welcome sign was updated to include more landmarks from around the world including St Basil’s Cathedral in Moscow Eiffel Tower in Paris and the Sydney Opera House It expanded but not by much in terms of space with it covering a 82,000 sq metre space while placed at Oud Metha 1.2 million guests visited the park where they tried out food and bought items from stalls representing 20 different cultures Seasons were shorter at this time and still tied to the Dubai Shopping Festival which lasted for around a month But its popularity was unquestionable with this bigger space unable to cope with the demand from visitors Global Village was on the move once again with a new The space grew once again in size to have pavilions representing 31 different cultures over a 147,000 sq metre location The bigger space meant it was able to welcome more visitors than ever before with 3.1 million people passing through the welcome gates back in 2004 Global Village had become too big to move around so frequently and moved into its current location at Dubailand that we’re all more than familiar with today The site being used at Dubai Festival City was being converted into a major residential commercial and tourism development so Global Village had to move Global Village was considered the star attraction of the Dubai Shopping Festival and it’s clear to see why with its popularity being called out as a reason for the strain on Dubai’s road infrastructure regardless of where it was held Having moved so often and become so popular, it was described by Salem bin Dasmal, the Chief Executive Officer of Dubailand in 2004, as a “bedouin” (an Arab nomad of the desert) Global Village found the permanent home which we still know and love today at Dubailand The 17.2 million square ft area provided a whole new era for Global Village The more expansive space meant that there was now room to introduce the iconic funfair attractions that have become just as much a staple of the park as its many foodie stalls With previous iterations of Global Village being a strain on Dubai traffic a car park with spots for 15,000 vehicles was an essential addition for 2005 there were 46 pavilions representing countries from around the world including a few specific ones that we no longer see at the park such as the UK In season 29, we now have 30 pavilions representing 90 different cultures, a new restaurant plaza and no shortage of stalls and rides 112 best things to do in Dubai in 2025Everything to tick off your 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