Yellowstone Trivia | 83 facts about the National Park

Yellowstone is an American national park that is situated in the western United States, largerly, in the northwest corner of Wyoming and extending into Montana and Idaho.

So let’s find out some trivia and facts about this park.

1. Yellowstone National Park is an American national park
2. It is located in the western United States
3. Largely in the northwest corner of Wyoming and extending into Montana and Idaho
4. It was established by the U.S. Congress and signed into law by President Ulysses S
5. Grant on March 1, 1872
6. Yellowstone was the first national park in the U.S.
7. It is also widely held to be the first national park in the world
8. The park is known for its wildlife and its many geothermal features
9. Especially Old Faithful geyser, one of its most popular
10. While it represents many types of biomes, the subalpine forest is the most abundant
11. It is part of the South Central Rockies forests ecoregion
12. Native Americans have lived in the Yellowstone region for at least 11,000 years
13. Aside from visits by mountain men during the early-to-mid-19th century, organized exploration did not begin until the late 1860s
14. Management and control of the park originally fell under the jurisdiction of the United States Department of the Interior
15. The first Secretary of the Interior to supervise the park being Columbus Delano
16. However, the U.S. Army was eventually commissioned to oversee management of Yellowstone for a 30-year period between 1886 and 1916
17. In 1917, administration of the park was transferred to the National Park Service, which had been created the previous year
18. Hundreds of structures have been built and are protected for their architectural and historical significance, and researchers have examined more than a thousand archaeological sites
19. Yellowstone National Park spans an area of 3,468.4 sq mi (8,983 km2)
20. Comprising lakes, canyons, rivers, and mountain ranges
21. Yellowstone Lake is one of the largest high-elevation lakes in North America and is centered over the Yellowstone Caldera
22. This is the largest supervolcano on the continent
23. The caldera is considered a dormant volcano
24. It has erupted with tremendous force several times in the last two million years
25. Well over half of the world’s geysers and hydrothermal features are in Yellowstone, fueled by this ongoing volcanism
26. Lava flows and rocks from volcanic eruptions cover most of the land area of Yellowstone
27. The park is the centerpiece of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem
28. It is the largest remaining nearly-intact ecosystem in the Earth’s northern temperate zone
29. In 1978, Yellowstone was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site
30. Hundreds of species of mammals, birds, fish, reptiles, and amphibians have been documented, including several that are either endangered or threatened
31. The vast forests and grasslands also include unique species of plants
32. Yellowstone Park is the largest and most famous megafauna location in the contiguous United States
33. Grizzly bears, wolves, and free-ranging herds of bison and elk live in this park
34. The Yellowstone Park bison herd is the oldest and largest public bison herd in the United States
35. Forest fires occur in the park each year
36. In the large forest fires of 1988, nearly one third of the park was burnt
37. Yellowstone has numerous recreational opportunities, including hiking, camping, boating, fishing, and sightseeing
38. Paved roads provide close access to the major geothermal areas as well as some of the lakes and waterfalls
39. During the winter, visitors often access the park by way of guided tours that use either snow coaches or snowmobiles
40. The park contains the headwaters of the Yellowstone River, from which it takes its historical name
41. Near the end of the 18th century, French trappers named the river Roche Jaune, which is probably a translation of the Hidatsa name Mi tsi a-da-zi (“Yellow Rock River”)
42. Later, American trappers rendered the French name in English as “Yellow Stone”
43. Although it is commonly believed that the river was named for the yellow rocks seen in the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, the Native American name source is unclear
44. Yellowstone National Park is the centerpiece of the 20 million acres (80,940 km2; 31,250 sq mi) Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, a region that includes Grand Teton National Park, adjacent National Forests and expansive wilderness areas in those forests
45. The ecosystem is the largest remaining continuous stretch of mostly undeveloped pristine land in the contiguous United States
46. Considered the world’s largest intact ecosystem in the northern temperate zone
47. With the successful wolf reintroduction program, which began in the 1990s, virtually all the original faunal species known to inhabit the region when white explorers first entered the area can be found there
48. Over 1,700 species of trees and other vascular plants are native to the park
49. Another 170 species are considered to be exotic species and are non-native
50. Of the eight conifer tree species documented, Lodgepole Pine forests cover 80% of the total forested areas
51. Other conifers, such as Subalpine Fir, Engelmann Spruce, Rocky Mountain Douglas-fir and Whitebark Pine, are found in scattered groves throughout the park
52. As of 2007, the whitebark pine is threatened by a fungus known as white pine blister rust; however, this is mostly confined to forests well to the north and west
53. In Yellowstone, about seven percent of the whitebark pine species have been impacted with the fungus, compared to nearly complete infestations in northwestern Montana
54. Quaking Aspen and willows are the most common species of deciduous trees
55. The aspen forests have declined significantly since the early 20th century, but scientists at Oregon State University attribute recent recovery of the aspen to the reintroduction of wolves which has changed the grazing habits of local elk
56. Yellowstone is widely considered to be the finest megafauna wildlife habitat in the lower 48 states
57. There are almost 60 species of mammals in the park, including the Rocky Mountain wolf, coyote, the Canadian lynx, cougars, and black and grizzly bears
58. Other large mammals include the bison (often referred to as buffalo), elk, moose, mule deer, white-tailed deer, mountain goat, pronghorn, and bighorn sheep
59. Yellowstone climate is greatly influenced by altitude, with lower elevations generally found to be warmer year-round
60. The record high temperature was 99 °F (37 °C) in 2002
61. While the coldest temperature recorded is −66 °F (−54 °C) in 1933
62. During the summer months of June to early September, daytime highs are normally in the 70 to 80 °F (21 to 27 °C) range
63. While night time lows can go to below freezing (0 °C) especially at higher altitudes
64. Summer afternoons are frequently accompanied by thunderstorms
65. Spring and fall temperatures range between 30 and 60 °F (−1 and 16 °C) with nights in the teens to single digits (−5 to −20 °C)
66. Winter in Yellowstone is accompanied by high temperatures usually between zero and 20 °F (−20 to −5 °C)
67. Nighttime temperatures below 0 °F (−18 °C) for most of the winter
68. The climate at Yellowstone Lake is classified as subarctic (Dfc), according to Köppen-Geiger climate classification
69. While at the park headquarters the classification is humid continental (Dfb)
70. Yellowstone ranks among the most popular national parks in the United States
71. Since the mid-1960s, at least 2 million tourists have visited the park almost every year
72. Average annual visitation increased to 3.5 million during the ten-year period from 2007 to 2016
73. With a record of 4,257,177 recreational visitors in 2016
74. July is the busiest month for Yellowstone National Park
75. At peak summer levels, 3,700 employees work for Yellowstone National Park concessionaires
76. Concessionaires manage nine hotels and lodges, with a total of 2,238 hotel rooms and cabins available
77. They also oversee gas stations, stores and most of the campgrounds
78. Another 800 employees work either permanently or seasonally for the National Park Service
79. The entire park is within the jurisdiction of the United States District Court for the District of Wyoming
80. Making it the only federal court district that includes portions of more than one state (Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming)
81. Law professor Brian C. Kalt has argued that it may be impossible to impanel a jury in compliance with the Vicinage Clause of the Sixth Amendment for a crime committed solely in the unpopulated Idaho portion of the park
82. One defendant, who was accused of a wildlife-related crime in the Montana portion of the park, attempted to raise this argument but eventually pleaded guilty
83. With the plea deal including his specific agreement not to raise the issue in his appeal