YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK – Wednesday at 8:37 p.m. Steamboat Geyser in Yellowstone National Park had a major eruption for the 29th time this year.
That ties the former record for the most documented Steamboat eruptions in a year.
The Norris Geyser Basin, where Steamboat is located, is currently closed to the public but after Dec. 15 when the winter season begins in Yellowstone it will reopen.
To get there, visitors have to take either a snowcoach or snowmobile tour to Norris and then walk down snow-covered trails and boardwalks to see it.
In the meantime, Yellowstone National Park spokeswoman Morgan Warthin said the eruption is a big deal for scientists.
“You know, for scientists, they’re excited. I think everyone’s excited but in particular the scientists because Steamboat is doing something that it hasn’t done for quite some time. So for scientists it’s an opportunity to learn more about this really unique, and what was random, geyser that has now become not so random,” said Warthin.
The geyser has been erupting every 7 to 10 days for about six weeks, so if it keeps that up it’ll set a new record.
Steamboat is the tallest active geyser in the world. It can shoot water or steam 300 feet into the air with water eruptions lasting from 3 to 40 minutes while steam eruptions last for hours or even days.
By John Sherer – MTN News
