Yellowstone National Park History

Location and Establishment

• Yellowstone National Park is located in the western United States, primarily in Wyoming, with extensions into Montana and Idaho.
• Established by the 42nd U.S. Congress with the Yellowstone National Park Protection Act, signed into law by President Ulysses S. Grant on March 1, 1872.

History and Management

• Yellowstone was the first national park in the U.S. and is considered the first national park in the world.
• Native Americans lived in the region for at least 11,000 years, with organized exploration beginning in the late 1860s.
• Initially managed by the U.S. Department of the Interior, with the U.S. Army overseeing the park for 30 years (1886-1916).
• In 1917, management was transferred to the National Park Service, which was created in 1916.

Features and Geology

• Spans an area of 3,468.4 sq mi (8,983 km2), featuring lakes, canyons, rivers, and mountain ranges.
• Yellowstone Lake is one of the largest high-elevation lakes in North America, centered over the Yellowstone Caldera, a dormant volcano.
• The caldera is considered the largest super volcano on the continent, having erupted with tremendous force several times in the last two million years.
• Over half of the world's geysers and hydrothermal features are found in Yellowstone, fueled by ongoing volcanism.
• Lava flows and rocks from volcanic eruptions cover most of the land area.

Ecosystem and Wildlife

• The park is the centerpiece of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, the largest remaining nearly intact ecosystem in the Earth's northern temperate zone.
• Hundreds of species of mammals, birds, fish, reptiles, and amphibians have been documented, including endangered or threatened species.
• Unique species of plants are found in the vast forests and grasslands.
• The park is home to grizzly bears, cougars, wolves, and free-ranging herds of bison and elk.

Conservation and Tourism

• Named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1978.
• Forest fires occur in the park each year, with the 1988 fires burning nearly one-third of the park.
• Recreational opportunities include hiking, camping, boating, fishing, and sightseeing.
• Visitors can access the park through guided tours using snow coaches or snowmobiles during the winter.