Unusual Eruption At World’s Largest Active Geyser In Yellowstone

KFI- The world’s largest active geyser has erupted three times in the past six weeks, a pattern, geologists say, is unusual, but not at all indicative of a potentially larger eruption from the supervolcano beneath Wyoming.

Steamboat Geyser, which is known to shoot water up as high as 300 feet into the air, has erupted three times over the last six weeks, once on March 15th, again on April 19th, and last Friday. The U.S. Geological Survey’s Yellowstone Volcano  Observator said the last time Steamboat Geyser erupted three times in a year was back in 2003.

Steamboat’s major eruptions last anywhere from 3 to 40 minutes, and are generally followed by powerful jets of steam. The geyser hasn’t always been active, with records showing that it lay dormant between 1911 and 1961.

Geologist haven’t figured out why Steamboat has been so active the last few weeks, but they do say it’s unlikely that it’s part of any larger eruption. Yellowstone sits on top of an active volcano known as a caldera, that hosts one of the world’s most diverse and expansive hydrothermal systems. Millions of visitors flock to the park every year to check out the many multi-colored springs, mudpots and geysers for which it is well-known for.  more here