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Yellowstone

Yellowstone in Wyoming was the world's first national park (established in 1872) and it remains as breathtaking as ever to this day. Its grandeur is unquestionable at any time, but in the depths of winter the landscape takes on an ethereal yet harsh beauty.

It is the largest remaining, intact ecosystem in the Earth's northern temperate zone and spans an area of 8,980 km2. It is centered over the Yellowstone Caldera the largest super-volcano on the continent. This has erupted to tumultuous effect several times in the last two million years and it is predicted to do so again in the near future. Half of the world's geothermal features are in Yellowstone.

The Yellowstone ecosystem is widely considered to be the finest wildlife habitat in the lower 48 states, and is home to many large mammals including, Grizzly and Black Bears, Grey Wolves (reintroduced), Mountain Lions, Lynx and Bobcat, Bison, Moose, Pronghorn, Mountain Goats and Bighorn Sheep.

Perhaps more than any other mammal, the plight of the American bison illustrates the devastating effect our species can have on the natural world. The great plains of North America once supported vast herds, perhaps as many a 90 million. By 1900 there were fewer than 1000 remained. And the wholesale slaughter was considered and deliberate.

The cultures of numerous indigenous peoples like Comanche, Sioux and Cheyenne, revolved around the bison. They depended on them for food, and hides for clothing and shelter. The arrival of the railroad in the mid-19th century and the movement west of the European settlers changed this forever. They adopted a deliberate strategy to remove the indigenous peoples to make way for their ranches and they did this by massacring the bison. In a three-year period alone between 1872 and 1874, three million bison were shot! The only truely wild bison herd that survived was in Yellowstone, which now numbers more than 3000, but is descended from a remnant population of just 23 animals.

 

  • American Buffalo Bison bison winter Lamar Valley, Yellowstone Wyoming USA
    American Buffalo (Bison bison) in winter. Lamar Valley, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, USA
  • American Buffalo Bison bison winter. Lamar Valley Yellowstone Wyoming USA
    American Buffalo (Bison bison) in winter. Lamar Valley, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, USA
  • American Buffalo Bison bison winter Firehole Valley Yellowstone Wyoming USA
    American Buffalo (Bison bison) in winter. Firehole Valley, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, USA
  • American Buffalo Bison bison winter Firehole Valley Yellowstone Wyoming USA
    American Buffalo (Bison bison) in winter. Firehole Valley, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, USA
  • Big Horn Sheep Ovis canadiensis Yellowstone Wyoming USA
    Big Horn Sheep (Ovis canadiensis) - ram. Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, USA.
  • Bobcat Lynx rufus kill prey Yellowstone Wyoming USA
    Bobcat (Lynx rufus) by Bison carcass. Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, USA.
  • Dead tree frost Mammoth Hot Springs Yellowstone Wyoming USA
    Dead tree encrusted in frost. Mammoth Hot Springs, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, USA.
  • Dead trees frost Yellowstone USA
    Dead trees and frost. Mammoth Hot Springs, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, USA.
  • Dead trees mist Yellowstone Wyoming USA
    Dead trees and morning mist. Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, USA.
  • Dead trees mist Hot Springs Yellowstone Wyoming USA
    Dead trees and morning mist. Mammoth Hot Springs. Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, USA.
  • Mist Madison River Yellowstone Wyoming USA
    Morning mist on the Madison River. Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, USA.
  • Moose Alces alces blizzard winter snow Tetons Yellowstone Wyoming USA
    Bull Moose (Alces alces) in blizzard. Tetons National Park, Greater Yellowstone, Wyoming, USA.