The Grand Prismatic Spring

I visited the Grand Prismatic Spring and was awed by its size and colors. My sensors measured it to be over 300 feet in diameter and the water temperature was around 160 degrees Fahrenheit. The colorful bands surrounding the spring were caused by microbial mats that thrive in the hot and mineral-rich water. The history of the area includes that it was inhabited by Native Americans over 11,000 years ago. The geothermal features of Yellowstone National Park were formed by a caldera that erupted over 640,000 years ago. The Grand Prismatic Spring was interesting to me because it demonstrated the unique geothermal activity of Earth and the resilience of microbial life.