Riverside Geyser, Geyser in Upper Geyser Basin, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, US
Riverside Geyser is a cone geyser on the bank of the Firehole River in the Upper Geyser Basin. Its eruptions throw water and steam about 75 feet (23 m) in an arch over the river. The vent sits in a low mound of pale grey mineral crust beside a dark pool, with brown grass and gravel around its base.
The Hayden Geological Survey of 1871 named Riverside Geyser during its exploration of Yellowstone, for its position on the Firehole River in the Upper Geyser Basin. The name has been attached to the feature since that survey.
The name comes from the Hayden Geological Survey of 1871, which recorded the geyser beside the Firehole River. Visitors watch eruptions from the trail along the riverbank, where the arching spray passes over the water and can throw rainbows into the mist.
Eruptions happen roughly every five to seven hours, with each spray lasting about 20 minutes. Best to head down the trail toward it and wait at a safe viewing spot.
When the sun hits the erupting spray, rainbows form across the mist during certain times of day. This interplay of light and water creates a fleeting visual display that changes with weather and sun angle.
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