Fishing Cone, Geyser in West Thumb Basin, Yellowstone National Park, US
Fishing Cone is a cone-shaped geothermal formation at the edge of Yellowstone Lake in West Thumb Basin. The structure releases water heated to temperatures exceeding 93 degrees Celsius (200 degrees Fahrenheit).
Early settlers and Native Americans discovered the formation while catching fish from the lake and preparing them in the hot water. In the late 1800s a park superintendent popularized this cooking method among visitors.
The name comes from a late 1800s practice when visitors would cook fish directly in the hot waters. Today the site serves as a reminder of this hands-on relationship people once had with the geothermal features here.
The site is easily accessible from the park road and offers good views of the formation and the lake. Visitors should stay on designated paths and keep a safe distance from the hot water areas.
During spring months, rising lake waters submerge the cone, temporarily transforming it into a hot spring with reduced thermal activity. This seasonal shift makes the feature a dynamic place that changes with the time of year.
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