84. The Yellowstone National Park. The **Yellowstone National Park, which, by Act of Congress in 1872, was set apart as a public park or pleasure ground for the benefit and enjoyment of the people, originally covered a tract 65 M. long from N. to S. and 55 M. wide from E. to W., with an area of 3575 sq. M.; but to this has recently been added a forest - reservation of nearly 2000 sq. M. more on the S. and E., making a total area considerably larger than Connecticut or Belgium. The great bulk of the Park lies in Wyoming, but small portions of it are in Montana (N.) and Idaho (W.). The central portion of the Park consists of a broad volcanic plateau, with an average elevation of 8000 ft. above sea-level. Surrounding this on all sides are mountains with peaks and ridges rising 2000-4000 ft. above the general level. To the S. are the grand Teton and Wind River Ranges; to the E. the Absaroka Mts. To the N. E. a confused mass of mountains unites the Absarokas with the Snowy Range, which shuts in the Park on the N. The beautiful Gallatin Range, on the N. and N.W., lies partly within the national reservation. The whole district has been the scene of remarkable volcanic activity at a comparatively late geological epoch; and the traces of this activity, in the form of geysers, boiling springs, terrace and crater formations, cliffs of obsidian, deeply-cleft cañons, petrified trees, sulphur hills, and the like, are of the strangest and most startling description (see below). Its geysers are the largest in the world, excelling those of New Zealand or Iceland. Its lakes and waterfalls are also fine, and the marvellously coloured Cañon of the Yellowstone (p. 387) perhaps outstrips even the geysers as an attraction. A great part of the Park is covered with dense forests of yellow pine and Douglas spruce. An attempt has been made to make the Park a huge game-preserve, and large quantities of wild animals, including the last herd of buffaloes in America, elk, deer, bears, big-horn sheep, etc., are sheltered in its recesses. The ordinary tourist, however, will see little of these. No shooting is allowed within the Park precincts; but fishing is freely allowed, and excellent sport may be obtained in the Yellowstone, the Yellowstone Lake, and other waters (trout and grayling). The botanist will find much to interest him in the flora of the district, and it need scarcely be said that it is a peculiarly happy hunting-ground for the geologist. The Park is under the exclusive control of the Secretary of the Interior, and troops of U. S. cavalry are stationed here in summer to protect the natural curiosities. The rules of the Park may be seen at the hotels, and any infringement of them is severely dealt with. The Lower Geyser Basin was first explored by Capt. W.W. De Lacy in 1863, though trappers and hunters had previously brought home tales of its wonders. Since then the U. S. Government has sent various scientific topographical and geological expeditions into the Yellowstone, which has now been pretty thoroughly explored and mapped (comp. p. 380). Geology of the Yellowstone Park (by Arnold Hague, U.S. Geological Survey). Geological evidence shows that the processes of mountain building were contemporaneous in all these ranges and took place near the close of Cretaceous time. By the upheaval of the mountains a depressed basin was formed, everywhere shut in by high land. Later, the pouring out of vast masses of lavas converted this depressed region into the Park plateau. Tertiary time was marked by great volcanic activity, lavas being piled up until the accumulated mass measured more than 2000 ft. in thickness. At least two centres of volcanic eruptions, Mt. Washburne and Mt. Sheridan, are known within this area. The plateau built up of these lavas embraces an area of 50 by 40 M., the volcanic flows resting against the steep spurs of the encircling mountains. Strictly speaking is is not a plateau; at least it is by no means a level region, but presents an undulating country characterized by bold escarpments and abrupt edget of mesa-like ridges. It is accidented by shallow basins of varied "outline and scored by deep cañons and gorges. Evidences of fresh lava flows within recent times are wholly wanting; nevertheless, over the Park plateau the most unmistakable evidence of underground heat is every' where to be seen in the waters of innumerable hot springs, geysers |