Excelsior Geyser

Excelsior Geyser Crater, formerly known as Excelsior Geyser, is a dormant fountain-type geyser in the Midway Geyser Basin of Yellowstone National Park in the United States. Excelsior was named by the Hayden Geological Survey of 1871.[4]

Excelsior Geyser Crater
Eruption, 1888 by F. Jay Haynes
Name originHayden Survey, 1871
LocationMidway Geyser Basin, Yellowstone National Park, Teton County, Wyoming
Coordinates44°31′35″N 110°50′13″W[1]
Elevation7,257 feet (2,212 m)[2]
TypeFountain-type Geyser
Eruption heightBoil – 300 feet, and just as wide.
FrequencyWhen it was active, every 2 minutes to 5 hours
DurationWhen it was active, 1–3.5 minutes
Discharge4,000–4,050 gallons per minute – when not erupting
Temperature199 °F (93 °C)[3]

Description

The Excelsior Geyser pool discharges 4,000 to 4,500 gallons (15,100–17,000 l)[5] of 199 °F (93 °C)[3] water per minute directly into the Firehole River. In the late 19th century (and possibly 1901), it was an active geyser that erupted frequently. Most eruptions were about 100 feet high, although some exceeded 300 feet (91 m) in both height and width. It is believed that the powerful eruptions damaged its internal plumbing system, and it now boils as a productive hot spring most of the time.

Activity

In 1985, Excelsior returned to activity for a 46-hour period from September 14 to 16. These eruptions were relatively small at 30 feet (9.1 m) but a few were as much as 80 feet (24 m) tall and 100 feet wide. All of these eruptions lasted about 2 minutes at intervals of 5 to 66 minutes.[5]

Between 2004 and 2006, Excelsior did have violent boiling strong enough to be considered as eruptions. This boiling reached between 5 to 10 feet (1.5 to 3.0 m) and had a duration of seconds.

  • Images of Excelsior Geyser
  • Postcard after F. Jay Haynes photo
  • The pool and runoff from the Excelsior Geyser crater
  • Excelsior Geyser crater
  • Runoff into Firehole River
  • Runoff into Firehole River

References
  1. "Excelsior Geyser Crater". Yellowstone Geothermal Features Database. Montana State University.
  2. "Excelsior Geyser Crater". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey.
  3. "Thermal Springs List for the United States". National Geophysical Data Center, NOAA.
  4. Bauer, Clyde Max (1937). The Story of Yellowstone Geysers. Saint Paul, MN: Jack Ellis Haynes.
  5. "Excelsior Geyser". Geyser Observation and Study Association (GOSA). 2006.
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