| Yellowstone Plateau Volcanic Field | |
| Location: | |
| Elevation Ft: | 10313[1] |
| Range: | Rocky Mountains |
| Last Eruption: | approximately 631,000 years ago (caldera-forming); 70,000 years ago (in the caldera) |
| Coordinates: | 44.471°N -110.5019°W |
| Topo: | USGS Yellowstone National Park |
| Type: | Complex volcano, volcanic plateau and volcanic field[2] |
| Age: | ~2,080,000–70,000 years[3] |
| Easiest Route: | Hike/auto/bus |
The Yellowstone Plateau Volcanic Field, also known as the Yellowstone Supervolcano or the Yellowstone Volcano, is a complex volcano, volcanic plateau and volcanic field located mostly in the western U.S. state of Wyoming but also stretches into Idaho and Montana. It is a popular site for tourists.The plateau developed through three volcanic cycles spanning two million years that included some of the world's largest known eruptions. The eruption of the >2500sqkm Huckleberry Ridge Tuff about 2 million years ago created the more than 75km (47miles) long Island Park Caldera. The second cycle concluded with the eruption of the Mesa Falls Tuff around 1.3 million years ago, forming the 25km (16miles) wide Henry's Fork Caldera at the western end of the first caldera. Activity subsequently shifted to the present Yellowstone Plateau and culminated 630,000 years ago with the eruption of the >1000sqkm Lava Creek Tuff and the formation of the present 45kmx75kmkm (28milesx47mileskm) caldera. Resurgent doming then occurred at both the NE and SW sides of the caldera and voluminous 1000sqkm intracaldera rhyolitic lava flows were erupted between 150,000 and 70,000 years ago. Phreatic eruptions produced local tephras during the early Holocene. The caldera presently contains one of the world's largest hydrothermal systems including the world's largest concentration of geysers.[4] Much of the plateau is located within Yellowstone National Park.