Big Cone, Geyser in West Thumb Basin, Yellowstone National Park, US
Big Cone is a geyserite formation in West Thumb Geyser Basin that sits right along the Yellowstone Lake shoreline. The structure has built up over many years from mineral deposits left by hot spring water and displays the cone shape typical of geothermal features in this area.
The geothermal system at Yellowstone formed due to volcanic activity within the caldera thousands of years ago. Big Cone developed as part of this active system and scientists use it to study how these thermal features behave and change over time.
Scientists and researchers from the Geyser Observation and Study Association regularly monitor Big Cone to document its geological characteristics and eruption patterns.
This feature is viewed from boardwalks in West Thumb Geyser Basin that keep visitors at safe distances from hot spring activity. Staying on marked paths is important since the ground around thermal features can be unstable and dangerously hot.
When Yellowstone Lake water levels rise, this entire cone structure disappears completely beneath the surface. This seasonal disappearance reveals how closely connected the lake and the thermal features are in this region.
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