Riverside Geyser Explained

Riverside Geyser
Location:Upper Geyser Basin, Yellowstone National Park, Teton County, Wyoming
Coordinates:44.4735°N -110.8405°W
Hot Spring Type:Cone geyser
Height:75feet
Duration:20 minutes
Frequency:5 - 7 hours

Riverside Geyser is a geyser in Yellowstone National Park in the U.S. state of Wyoming.

The geyser is located on the Firehole River within the Upper Geyser Basin. The geyser shoots steam and water to heights of 75 feet (23 m) in an arch over the river, sometimes causing rainbows. The eruptions occur every 512 to 7 hours. As is Old Faithful, Riverside is one of the most predictable geysers in the park, because it is not located near any other geysers that may disrupt the flow of underground water in the geyser's plumbing. Riverside is unique in its way that eruptions seldom occur at the average interval for any given time. Instead, Riverside is bimodal, meaning it usually erupts 20 minutes before or 25 minutes late for a duration of 20 minutes. For an hour or two before the eruption, water pours over the edge of the cone.[1] The geyser was named by the Hayden Geological Survey of 1871.[2]

The geyser is one of the most reliable geysers in Yellowstone,[3] despite the moniker and reputation of the better-known Old Faithful.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Riverside Geyser . Old Faithful Area Tour . National Park Service .
  2. Book: Bauer, Clyde Max . Yellowstone Geysers . Yellowstone Park, Wyoming . Haynes . 1947 . 1517713.
  3. Yellowstone: Photo Gallery . 325010 . Photos . 2005-09-19 .