File:Wonders of the Yellowstone region in the Rocky Mountains - being a description of its geysers, hot-springs, Grand Canon, waterfalls, lake, and surrounding scenery, explored in 1870-71 (1874) (14761745171).jpg

Identifier: wondersofyellows1874rich (find matches)
Title: Wonders of the Yellowstone region in the Rocky Mountains : being a description of its geysers, hot-springs, Grand Canon, waterfalls, lake, and surrounding scenery, explored in 1870-71
Year: 1874 (1870s)
Authors: Richardson, James
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Publisher: London Glascow Edinburgh : Blackie & Son
Contributing Library: Harold B. Lee Library
Digitizing Sponsor: Brigham Young University

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s a ripple on the surface, the colorsexceed comparison ; when the surface is calm thereis one vast chaos of colors, dancing, as it were, likethe colors of a kaleidoscope. As seen through thismarvellous play of colors, the decorations on thesides of the basin are lighted up with a wild, weirdbeauty, which wafts one at once into the land of en-chantment ; all the briUiant feats of fairies andgenii in the Arabian Nights Entertainments are for-gotten in the actual presence of such marvellousbeauty ; life becomes a privilege and a blessing afterone has seen and thoroughly felt its cunning skill.Across the river, and a short distance below thisgroup, is the largest and most imposing formationin the valley—the crater of Castle Geyser. Thisgeyser receives its name from its resemblance to theruins of an old castle as one enters the valley fromthe east. The deposited silica has crystallized inimmense globular masses, Hke cauliflowers or spong-iform corals, apparently formed about a nucleus at
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UPPER GETSER BASIN. 143 right angles to the centre. The entire mound isabout forty feet high, and the chimney twenty feet.The lower portion rises in steps formed of thinlaminae of silica, mostly very thin, but sometimescompact, an inch or two thick. On the southeastside, where the water is thrown out continually,these steps are ornamented with the usual bead andshell work, with the large cauliflower-like masses:but the other portions are fast going to decay, andthe debris are abundant. This has undoubtedlybeen one of the most active and powerful geysersin the basin ; it still keeps up a great roaring inside,and every few moments, as observed by Dr. Hay-den, it throws out a column of water to the heightof ten or fifteen feet. Occasionally it seems to havemore imposing eruptions, since on one occasionLieutenant Doane saw it throw a column of waterto the height of sixty feet, with the escape of heavyvolumes of steam. The next year Colonel Barlowsaw a similar display. According to the lat

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