Norris Area
You may feel the temperature rise as you explore the Norris Geyser Basin because it is the hottest, most changeable thermal area in Yellowstone. The highest recorded temperature in any thermal area was 459° F, and was found at Norris. Norris Geyser Basin is the most diverse and unpredictable area in the world. Norris is also the oldest of any of Yellowstone's active geyser basins. Each year at Norris a few new hot springs and geysers appear while others become dormant. A stem vents evolve into a Hot Springs, hot springs begin erupting, or a geysers pattern may change. At Norris these changes or disturbances in geothermal activity take place in a cyclic, almost predictable pattern. No other thermal area in Yellowstone exhibits this phenomenon. Mysteriously toward the end of the summer or early fall, features of Norris Geyser Basin undergo dramatic changes literally overnight. Clear pools become muddy and boil violently, and some suddenly become geysers. Geysers may become more active or become dormant. These disturbances generally last from a few days to more than a week.
Thermal features of Norris Geyser Basin
BACK BASIN
Emerald Spring - Clear blue water combines with the yellow sulfur coated crater to create a breathtaking green color. This spring is 27 ft deep and the average temperature is 190° F.
Steamboat Geyser - Erupting over 300 ft, Steamboat geyser is the world's tallest active geyser. For hours after the rare 3-40 minutes eruptions, Steamboat thunders with powerful jets of steam. Full eruptions are entirely unpredictable. There have been no eruptions between 1992-1995.
Echinus Geyser - Erupting every 35-75 minutes, most people are able to witness the geyser in full action. Its pools fill gradually with water; then suddenly burst of stem and water explode 40-60 ft upward. Echinus the largest acid-water geyser known. Acid geysers are extremely rare, however most of the planet's acid geysers are found in the Norris Geyser Basin. DO NOT MISS THIS ONE!
Green Dragon Spring - On a warm summer afternoon you may be able to catch a glimpse of this sulfur lines cave and boiling green water.
Porkchop Geyser - Once a small hot spring that occasionally erupted, Porkchop geyser became a continuous spouter in the spring of 1985. The force of the spray caused a boisterous roar that could be heard from the museum. On September 5, 1989, Porkchop exploded and propelled rocks more than 200 ft from the feature. Porkchop is now a gently boiling hot spring. Porkchop is a prime example of the ever so unpredictable features of Norris Geyser Basin.
Minute Geyser - Once a powerful eruption of steam and water, minute geyser now only spouts 1 ft above it's crater. The reason for its sudden change in activity is due, not to the changing features, but to human vandalism. No one can predict if Minute Geyser will ever again display its former powerful eruptions.
PORCELAIN BASIN
Norris Museum Overlook - Porcelain Basin is open with hundreds of densely packed geothermal features in contrast to the more forested terrain of Back Basin, where features are more scattered and isolated. Rainbow colors, hissing steam, and pungent odors combine to create this unique area in Yellowstone.
Porcelain Terrace Overlook - A number of these geysers and other features have been born suddenly due to hydrothermal explosions. Some features last only a few hours, days or weeks. Some are permanent features, such as Blue Geyser.
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