On March 1^st, 1872 – just six months after the Hayden Expedition – President Ulhysses S. Grant signed the Yellowstone National Park Protection Act into law; it was then that the world’s first national park was born. (Some would argue that Hot Springs in Arkansas was the first national park. Technicallyit was set aside in 1832 but as a national reservation to provide a utilitarian resource (hot water). It wasn’t until 1921 that it was established as a national park.) The Yosemite Act of 1864, which reserved Yosemite Valley from settlement and entrusted it to the care of the state of California, served as as an inspiration to Langford and his companions to promote a bill in late 1871 / early 1872 to help save Yellowstone from private development. Yellowstone National Park spans nearly 3,500 square miles. Most of it is in Wyoming, but also stretches into Montana and Idaho.

Yellowstone is probably best known for its abundant and diverse wildlife and the show-stopping geysers.

I remember coming here as a young kid and then again when I was in college – it is such a fascinating place to visit with all its hydrothermal and geologic wonders. Hot springs are the most abundant of the hydrothermal features in the park. Organisms known as thermophiles call this are home. It is so intriguing to walk around and look at the hot springs, especially the geysers. Geysers are hot springs that erupt periodically.

One thing that struck me when I visited was the horrendous smell, which is due to the small amounts of hydrogen sulfide gas given off by the geysers. Ancient explorers often described the geysers’ odors as the “Smell of Hell,” perhaps due with sulfur’s association with fiery volcanoes. Otherwise this magnificent, diverse national park is gorgeous with so much to see. One of these years, I hope to go back here to just take in more, and do more exploring.

Many people will think of Old Faithful when they think of Yellowstone. Old Faithful is a geyser that has been known to erupt at regular intervals, but with nearly 3,500 square miles, there is definitely so much more to see and do there. I did not realize the sheer size of it until I started doing some research on it.

Have you ever visited Yellowstone National Park? If so, what struck you most? Is it a place you would want to go back to to continue exploring? If you have yet to go there and are interested in nature – this is a definite must see park. For nature’s sake and also it would be a great way to acknowledge a worldwide movement to start protecting lands from development.