Day In Brief:	Norris Geyser Basin	Mammoth Hot Springs
�	Petrified Tree	Canyon Village
�	Firehole Canyon Drive	Fountain Paint Pot

Norris Geyser Basin

Norris Geyser Basin contains the hottest ground in the park as well as the world's tallest geyser-Steamboat Geyser. However, as Steamboat geyser erupts really infrequently, the Grand Geyser that we saw yesterday is the more popular tall geyser in Yellowstone due to its better predictability and higher frequency. The last known eruption of Steamboat Geyser was 2 years back, and as such, all that we got to see of Steamboat Geyser was the steaming pool of water that fills up periodically in the rather colourful ground inhabited by bacteria.

A picture of yours truly at the Norris Geyser Basin. Can u see the long boardwalk that meanders in the colourful ground of the Basin? (Hmm...the colours are probably not that visible in this picture....)

Mammoth Hot Springs

Mammoth Hot Springs is one of Yellowstone's most unique and well-loved areas becasue of its geologic diversity. Divided into Upper and Lower terraces, the contours of the area are constantly undergoing changes. Our next stop was at Canary Springs, which lies along the Upper Terrace Loop Drive. Steaming hot colourful terraces, over which water flows make up the area. Wooden board bridges are built over the sides of these terraces, allowing us to marvel at the sight of the steaming water rushing over the white calcium carbonate terraces, right below our feet.

On the wooden plank bridge at Canary Springs, high above the steaming white terraces beneath my feet. Strong winds were blowing, while the dark clouds rolled in. Rain would fall subsequently, typical of afternoon weather in Yellowstone.

Can u see the steamy surroundings behind me? That's due to the steam from the water flowing over the white hot terraces. The smell of sulphur was omni-present in the air around me. Trees that once grew in the area are now dead and well preserved by the sulphur and silica deposits from the white terraces.

Following the Lower Terrace Intepretive Trail, which leads us towards the Mammoth Hot Springs area, we stopped by at Minerva Terrace. Another favourite of visitors to Yellowstone because of its bright colours and travertine formations, the product of limestone deposits.

Ain't it colourful at Minerva Terrace? Don't u like the gold coloured cliffs behind Carol and I? :p

Another picture taken at Minerva Terrace. Can u see the steam rising from the boiling water flowing over the terraces? and the storm clouds rolling in from a distance? Rain fell in the area soon after the picture was taken.

Petrified Tree

Just a small spot of interest along our drives in Yellowstone. Petrified Tree is actually a redwood, that was burned by volcanic ash more than 50 million years ago. To date, it is still left standing. The park authorities have built a fence around the tree, probably to protect it from excessive tourists' attention.;p

Canyon Village

We made a short stop at the Canyon Village area of Upper Falls View. A short 0.25 mile trail leads us from the parking lot to the brink of the Upper Falls of the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone, and an overlook that gave us a nice view of the rushing river and the waterfall.

Firehole Canyon Drive

One of the delightful drives that we took on our way back to West Yellowstone. Unlike the other parts of Yellowstone National Park, this drive led us into the canyon itself (I think!). A gushing river flowed alongside the road, and we could see a waterfall along the drive as well. The red-rock walls of the canyon towers along the 2 sides of the road, giving a mysterious feel to the entire place, admist the misty, cold and wet air in the aftermath of the afternoon drizzle.

Fountain Paint Pot

As its name suggests, Fountain Paint Pot is a cauldron of hot reddish-pinkish mud that bloops and spits. Absolutely entertaining...:)

I guess all these spells the end of our 3 day sojourn to the world of bubbling hot springs, erupting geysers and great big bisons. Onwards to the land of glacier-cut landscape and amazing lakes in Montana.

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