Anne Elliott's photos with the keyword: Yellowstone Lake

This was an absolutely amazing week away with my friends, Linda and Tony, from England. I had known Linda since she was a baby and I was four or five years old, and our parents were best friends. Believe it or not, this was only my second holiday in about 30 years! Some of you may just remember that when my Brother in England died, several of my long-time friends who lived in the same city all stepped forward and helped me deal with everything long distance, from my Brother's funeral to finding everything possible in the house a good home (sold or donated). All my parents' belongings were there, too, so it was a mammoth task to go through everything and put aside every single personal item or document, which were then shipped to me here. When Linda and Tony were planning their trip to Canada, they persuaded me to join them for this wonderful week in Yellowstone National Park. I didn't know we were also going to Grand Teton National Park and then coming home via Glacier/Waterton National Parks, too! A wonderful treat! It's not easy to remember what all the different hot springs and geysers are in Yellowstone National Park, so hopefully I am identifying them correctly. I believe this hot spring is Abyss Pool, which is near the Black Pool, at the West Thumb Geyser Basin. Amazing how similar some of them look - especially once you are back home after your trip and a year and a half has gone by! In the distance is Yellowstone Lake. "Temperature 172°F. Dimensions 30x57 feet. Depth 53 feet. Abyss Pool is a colorful and interesting pool in the West Thumb Geyser Basin. Abyss is the deepest pool known in Yellowstone and received its name for its abyss-like depth. The dark green-colored water gives the illusion of a bottomless pool. Vandalism may have changed this pool's temperature. Coins and other debris thrown in have caused the vent to plug. The reduced spring flow also reduced the pool temperature, allowing abundant algae growth along the edge and run-off channels. The extensive microbial mats now support ephydrid flies, spiders and killdeers. An unusual eruption in 1987 caused the pool to surge and temporarily destroyed the microbial mats." www.yellowstonenationalpark.com/westthumb.htm

I still have all sorts of photos from my week's holiday with my friends from England that I haven't posted yet. This hot spring is now surrounded by the waters of Yellowstone Lake. Taken on 15 September 2012, the fifth day of our trip. "Fishing Cone is a geyser in the West Thumb Geyser Basin of Yellowstone National Park in the United States. In the earlier part of the 20th century, this cone had eruptions as high as 40 feet (12 m). As the water level in Yellowstone Lake has increased, the cone is now inundated during the spring and the temperatures in the cone have cooled enough that it no longer erupts and is now considered a hot spring. The name Fishing Cone can be traced back to tales told by mountain men of a lake where you could catch a fish then immediately dunk it into hot spring and cook it on the hook. A member of the 1870 Washburn-Langford-Doane Expedition popularized this feat." en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fishing_Cone

On two mornings, we were lucky enough to see several beautiful Elk on this narrow strip of land rising out of Yellowstone Lake, Wyoming, US. This stag was the only male, along with his females. Taken on 13 September 2012, the third day of a week away in Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks. There was a lot of haze in the park from forest fires. "Elk (Cervus elaphus) are the most abundant large mammal found in Yellowstone; paleontological evidence confirms their continuous presence for at least 1,000 years. Yellowstone National Park was established in 1872, when market hunting of all large grazing animals was rampant. Not until after 1886, when the U.S. Army was called in to protect the park and wildlife slaughter was brought under control, did the large animals increase in number. More than 30,000 elk from 7-8 different herds summer in Yellowstone and approximately 15,000 to 22,000 winter in the park." www.nps.gov/yell/naturescience/elk.htm

We were treated to this wonderful sight on two mornings during our stay at the Lake Yellowstone Hotel (in two of their little cabins). A short drive from the hotel along the edge of the lake, Elk were on this narrow bit of land not far from shore. As you can see, the male had his harem all to himself. On one of the mornings, a female swam across to the shore and, of course, everyone was hoping that the male would, too, but he stayed with his women. Taken on 13 September 2012 - a lot of haze from forest fires in the park while we were there. (Location on my map is only very approximate.) "Elk (Cervus elaphus) are the most abundant large mammal found in Yellowstone; paleontological evidence confirms their continuous presence for at least 1,000 years. Yellowstone National Park was established in 1872, when market hunting of all large grazing animals was rampant. Not until after 1886, when the U.S. Army was called in to protect the park and wildlife slaughter was brought under control, did the large animals increase in number. More than 30,000 elk from 7-8 different herds summer in Yellowstone and approximately 15,000 to 22,000 winter in the park." www.nps.gov/yell/naturescience/elk.htm

A very pale sunset, which still looked beautiful in person, but difficult to capture. Taken at the end of the third day of a week's trip with friends, down to Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks. There were a number of forest fires burning in Yellowstone, resulting in a lot of haze and "blue" mountains.

I really liked this particular area of hot springs in Yellowstone National Park, West Thumb Geyser Basin, as it was interesting to see how some of them were actually just off-shore, in Yellowstone Lake itself. My image shows one of the springs flowing into the lake, over the colourful deposits and growths. Taken between Big Cone and Black Pool. From this spot, we were happy to see two (or was it three?) beautiful Bald Eagles in the dead trees at the edge of the Basin. Somehow, I just wasn't expecting to see these majestic raptors in a place like this. I hope you're not getting TOO fed up of hot spring photos, especially as I still have a lot more to go through!

On two mornings, we were lucky enough to see several beautiful Elk on this narrow strip of land rising out of Yellowstone Lake, Wyoming, US. This stag was the only male, along with his females. Taken on 13 September 2012, the third day of a week away in Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks. There was a lot of haze in the park from forest fires. "Elk (Cervus elaphus) are the most abundant large mammal found in Yellowstone; paleontological evidence confirms their continuous presence for at least 1,000 years. Yellowstone National Park was established in 1872, when market hunting of all large grazing animals was rampant. Not until after 1886, when the U.S. Army was called in to protect the park and wildlife slaughter was brought under control, did the large animals increase in number. More than 30,000 elk from 7-8 different herds summer in Yellowstone and approximately 15,000 to 22,000 winter in the park." www.nps.gov/yell/naturescience/elk.htm What a performance with uploading my images this morning. Ended up having to use the old uploader - but even that wouldn't load the last photo. I've been trying for about an hour now.

On two mornings, we were lucky enough to see several beautiful Elk on this narrow strip of land rising out of Yellowstone Lake, Wyoming, US. This stag was the only male, along with his females. Taken on 13 September 2012, the third day of a week away with dear friends from England, Linda and Tony, in Yellowstone National Park, the Grand Teton National Park, and Glacier-Waterton Peace Park. If anyone is interested in reading about the background to this wonderful trip, the following link will take you to a photo I posted yesterday. www.flickr.com/photos/annkelliott/8000425580/in/photostream/

This female Elk had just swum across the water from a narrow island just offshore at Yellowstone Lake, Wyoming, US. Several Elk seem to like to rest on this narrow strip of land and it looks so beautiful to see them and their reflections in the lake. Taken on 13 September 2012.