Grotto Geyser, Geyser in Upper Geyser Basin of Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, United States.
Grotto Geyser is a geyser in the Upper Geyser Basin of Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming, with a cone that has taken on an irregular, cave-like shape through years of mineral buildup. Around the cone stand the petrified remains of trees that were gradually encased in the silica-rich rock over time.
The geyser was named in 1870 by the Washburn-Langford-Doane Expedition, the first organized survey of what would become Yellowstone National Park. That expedition helped build the case for protecting the area, leading to Yellowstone becoming the first US national park in 1872.
The name of the geyser comes from the cave-like shape of its cone, built up over time by mineral deposits. Visitors can watch water shoot from several openings at once, which sets it apart from the more symmetrical geysers nearby.
Grotto Geyser sits along the boardwalk in the Upper Geyser Basin, within walking distance of the Old Faithful area. Since eruptions do not follow a predictable schedule, plan to spend some time at the site and be patient waiting for activity.
Eruptions at Grotto Geyser can last for several hours at a time, which is unusually long compared to most geysers. During these extended bursts, water shoots simultaneously from different openings and in different directions.
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