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Yellowstone National Park
World's first national park, Established March 1, 1872
P.O. Box 168, Yellowstone National Park, WY 82190-0168
307-344-7381

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Castle Geyser © Bonnie Lange

Park Photography 

Old Faithful and some 10,000 other geysers and hot springs make this the Earth's greatest geyser area. Here, too, are lakes, waterfalls, high mountains meadows, and the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone -- all set apart in 1872 as the world's first national park.
General Facts
Established March 1, 1872. Boundary changes: May 26, 1926; March 1, 1929; April 19, 1930; Oct. 20, 1932. Designated a Biosphere Reserve 1976. Designated a World Heritage Site, Sept. 6, 1978.

Acreage - 2,219,790.71 Federal: 2,219,789.13 Nonfederal: 1.58

3,472 square miles (8,987 square km) 

63 miles north to south (102 km) 
54 miles east to west (87 km) 
Larger than Rhode Island and Delaware combined 
91% in Wyoming 
7.6% in Montana 
1.4% in Idaho 
Highest point: 11,358 ft (3462 m) - Eagle Peak 
Lowest point: 5,282 ft (1610 m) - Reese Creek 
Approximately 5% is covered by water; 15% is meadow and grassland; and 80% is forested. 
Precipitation ranges from 10 inches (26 cm) at north boundary to 80 inches (205 cm) in the southwest corner. 
Temperatures range from 10F (-12C) mean in January, to 55F (13C) mean in July at Lake Yellowstone in the center of the park. 
Record High Temp: 98F (37C) - Lamar 1936 
Record Low Temp: -66F (-54C) - Madison 1933 

Flora: 
8 species of conifers (Approximately 80% of forest is comprised of Lodgepole Pine.) 
Approximately 1,050 species of native vascular plants 
168 species of exotic (non-native) plants 

Wildlife: 
Largest concentration of free-roaming wildlife in the lower 48 states and the global temperate zone. 
7 species of native ungulates (hoofed mammals) 
2 species of bears 
Approximately 49 species of other mammals 
290 species of birds 
18 species of fish (5 non-native) 
6 species of reptiles 
4 species of amphibians 
5 species protected as "threatened or endangered" 

Yellowstone Lake: 
136 square miles surface area (35,400 hectares) 
110 miles of shoreline (177 km) 
20 miles north to south (32 km) 
14 miles east to west (23 km) 
Average depth - 139 feet (42 m) 
Maximum depth - 390 feet (119 m) 

Geology: 
Approximately 10,000 thermal features 
Approximately 200-250 active geysers 
Tallest waterfall: 308 feet (94 m) - Lower Falls of the Yellowstone River 
One of the world's largest calderas (volcanic explosion crater). It measures 28 miles x 47 miles (45 km x 75 km). 

Roads and Trails: 
5 Park entrances 
370 miles of paved roads 
Approximately 1,200 miles of trails 
97 trailheads 
Approximately 300 backcountry campsites 

Facilities: 
9 visitor centers / museums / information stations 
9 hotels / lodges (2,184 hotel rooms / cabins) 
7 NPS operated campgrounds (458 sites) 
5 concession operated campgrounds (1,744 sites) 
Over 2,000 buildings (NPS and concession) 
49 picnic areas 

Cultural Resources 
550 known archeologic sites 
Over 1,000 historic structures 
A designated World Heritage Site 
13 Historic Districts 
5 National Historic Landmarks 
Over 200,000 museum objects 
90,000 historic photographs 
1,400 linear feet of archives 
A Research Library of over 10,000 volumes 

Employees
During the summer: 
730 National Park Service 
3,200 Concessions 

(Source NPS)
 

Web design by Davinder Khanna

 

 

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