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The Yellowstone Destination is surrounded by mountains, lakes, forests, hot springs, geysers, and many other natural landmarks. The region covers parts of Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming. The most notable thing that the zone is known for is Yellowstone National Park. This is the biggest attraction in the area and brings in millions of people each year. Ninety-six percent of Yellowstone National Park is located in Wyoming. Five percent of the park is covered with rivers and lakes, and 80 percent of the park is forested. The park has over 200 waterfalls and 10,000 thermal features, such as geysers.[1] Some notable cities in the destination include Jackson Hole, Island Park, and West Yellowstone. Most of the cities in this region are known for the natural features that the areas offer, including rivers, mountains, wildlife, and the activities that can be done in the areas. Jackson Hole is known for skiing that can be found in the area. Island Park has various natural features, including Henry's Lake and the Snake River.
The Yellowstone Destination covers parts of Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho. Major cities in the destination include Jackson Hole, WY, Island Park, ID, and West Yellowstone, MT. The Yellowstone Destination is known for many of its physical features, including mountains, rivers, lakes, hot springs, forests, and geysers. One of the most famous attractions in the Yellowstone Destination is Old Faithful, a geyser that erupts around 20 times a day. Old Faithful's eruptions are between 100-180 feet and last for about 1.5 to 5 minutes. Old Faithful was discovered in 1870, just two years before Yellowstone National Park was opened. Old Faithful received its name because of the rather predictable eruptions that the geyser had. There is a ranger station near Old Faithful that predicts the eruption times, lengths, and height.[2]
The Grand Canyon in Yellowstone is another popular attraction located in the region. The Grand Canyon has upper and lower waterfalls, with various trails around the canyon. The lower falls are 308 feet, and the upper falls are 109 feet.[3] The Canyon displays a considerable amount of colors and shapes, creating an extremely unique and completely natural view for visitors to experience. Many tourists are interested in seeing the Mammoth Hot Springs while visiting Yellowstone National Park. The Mammoth Hot Springs was formed thousands of years ago and can be seen from various trails in Yellowstone National Park.[4] Hayden Valley, Yellowstone Lake, and Norris Geyser Basin are a few other popular attractions.
Hayden Valley is a great location for those trying to see the wildlife that Yellowstone has to offer. Visitors are likely to see bison, elk, grizzly bears, and more as they drive through the valley. Yellowstone Lake provides views of the clear water, surrounding mountains and holds the Fishing Bridge. The Fishing Bridge was built in 1902 and was a popular, convenient, and successful spot to fish. Since the population of fish has decreased, in 1973, the bridge closed for fishing. Many people still come to the bridge to take in the scenic view that the bridge offers. The Norris Geyser Basin is another spot to visit, being the hottest geyser basin in the park.
Almost two million tourists visit the park annually. From the years 2007-2016, the annual visit rates increased to nearly 3.5 million visitors. July is the peak month for visiting Yellowstone National Park.[1] Yellowstone National Park sees heavy tourism throughout most of the summer months and stays reasonably busy May through October. Yellowstone National Park sees visitors of all ages, including many families coming to see the wildlife and geysers.[8]
The Yellowstone Destination is frequently visited because of the geographic features that the area offers. Mountains, lakes, forests, hot springs, and geysers are all physical aspects that add to the region. Cities that are included in the destination include Rexburg, Jackson Hole, Island Park, West Yellowstone, and Billings. Physical features covered in the zone include Bridger-Teton National Forest, Shoshone National Forest, Custer Gallatin National Forest, and Yellowstone National Park. Outdoor activities are a significant draw to the area. Jackson Hole is known for the great skiing and snowboarding that can be found in the area. The majority of the cities in the destination offer countless hikes and lakes for numerous water activities.
Wildlife viewing is a substantial aspect of the Yellowstone Destination. Various mammals that can be seen in the destination include black bears, bobcats, cougars, and grizzly bears. There are multiple birds in the area, including golden eagles, bald eagles, osprey, and falcons. Yellowstone has a plethora of wildflowers, quaking aspen, cottonwood, and taxa, which are indigenous to the area.[13] Montana and Wyoming are states which are included in the region and are known for producing wheat, hay, barley, and beef.[14] Additionally, Idaho is part of the Yellowstone Destination and produces the highest number of potatoes in the nation.
The climate in the Yellowstone Destination ranges from pleasant summers to cold and snowy winters. The weather typically reaches its highest during the month of July, getting up to around 73 degrees (Fahrenheit), with the low being around 39 degrees. In October, the temperature drops, dropping to 48 degrees. The coldest months tend to be December and January, with an average temperature hovering around 27 degrees. The Yellowstone receives the most rain during March, April, December, and January. It rains approximately 13 to 14 days during the rainy months.
The Yellowstone National Park is named after the Yellowstone River, which is believed to have been named by the French or American trappers. Native Americans were fishing and hunting in the area over 11,000 years ago. Lewis and Clark eventually traveled through the region and came across various tribes, including Native Americans from the Nez Perce, Crow, and the Shoshone tribes. John Colter was a member of the Lewis and Clark Expedition and passed through a part of the park and found a geothermal area. Later on, other trappers, travelers, and mountain men reported similar remarks of finding boiling mud and steaming rivers, but it was believed by most to be a myth. Cornelius Hedges was a member of the Washburn expedition and thought the area should be preserved as a national park.
In 1871, Ferdinand V. Hayden explored the destination and made the most significant push into making Yellowstone a national park. The park was eventually established after the Hayden Expedition. President Ulysses S. Grant was the president who signed the Yellowstone National Park Protection Act. Nathaniel P. Langford was the first superintendent of Yellowstone. Yellowstone National Park was established on March 1, 1872. Yellowstone National Park was the first National Park in the world.
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