Mammoth Hot Springs, Lower Terraces - Yellowstone National Park - Hot Springs on Waymarking.com

Heat, water, limestone, and rock fracture combine to create the terraces of the Mammoth Hot Springs area. The main mineral deposited here is travertine, usually a white rock; however the microorganisms and living bacteria create beautiful shades of oranges, pinks, yellows, greens, and browns. The Mammoth Hot springs are constantly changing. As formations grow, water is forced to flow in different directions. The constant changes in water and mineral deposits create a living sculpture.

Mammoth Hot Springs is divided into two sections, the Lower Terraces, and the Upper Terrace Loop. Here is a picture of the entire area, taken from about a quarter mile away. Here you can read more about Mammoth Hot Springs at the National Park Website.

Minerva Terrace is the main part of the lower terraces and activity shifts dramatically around here. The current cascades of travertine were formed in the 1990s. Some years, they dry. Whatever the activity, it is obvious why the Minerva Terrace was named for the Roman Goddess of artists and sculptors. Its ornate travertine formations create the look of layer cakes and lace-edged pools. In the dry areas, one can clearly see the many layers and the varying depths. Where water flows, thermophiles color the terraces. For more pictures of Minerva Terrace click here: 1, 2, 3.

Palette Spring resembles a painter's palette, thus the name. Water flows from flat area and then down a steep ridge. The microorganisms and bacteria create a palette of brown, green, and orange. Next to Palette Spring is Devil's Thumb, remnant of a hotspring active a long time ago (similar to the larger Liberty cap.) For a large picture of both features click here: 1.

Liberty Cap is a 37 foot tall hotspring cone. Its unusual formation was created through thousands of years. The internal pressure of the hotspring that was once in place here was sufficient enough to rise the water to a height that would allow mineral deposits to build up. Hundreds of years later, a cone was formed. Liberty Cap was named in 1871 because it resembled the peaked knit caps symbolizing freedom and liberty during the French Revolution. Today it is dormant and a large chunk broke off in 1994. For a larger picture click here: 1.