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Wallpaper Details: The Grand Prismatic Spring

High-resolution desktop wallpaper The Grand Prismatic Spring by Jeff Stys
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The Grand Prismatic Spring

July 14th, 2013

The Grand Prismatic Spring in Yellowstone National Park is the largest hot spring in the United States, and the third largest in the world.

The vivid colors in the spring are the result of pigmented bacteria in the microbial mats that grow around the edges of the mineral-rich water. The bacteria produce colors ranging from green to red; the amount of color in the microbial mats depends on the ratio of chlorophyll to carotenoids and on the temperature of the water which favors one bacterium over another. In the summer, the mats tend to be orange and red, whereas in the winter the mats are usually dark green. The center of the pool is sterile due to extreme heat.

The deep blue color of the water in the center of the pool results from the intrinsic blue color of water, itself the result of water's selective absorption of red wavelengths of visible light. Though this effect is responsible for making all large bodies of water blue, it is particularly intense in Grand Prismatic Spring because of the high purity and depth of the water in the middle of the spring.

The spring is approximately 250 by 300 feet (80 by 90 m) in size and is 160 feet (50 m) deep. The spring discharges an estimated 560 US gallons (2,100 L) of 160 F (70 C) water per minute.

Wikipedia: Grand Prismatic Spring.

Circular polarizing filter. Adobe Camera Raw.

Nikon D700, Carl Zeiss Distagon T* 2,8/21 ZF.2.

Photo Settings: 21mm, f/11, 1/125 second, ISO 200.

Map: 44.5251, -110.8381

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This wallpaper has been tagged with the keywords:

geological features » grand prismatic spring » hot springs » landscape » midway geyser basin » nature » photography » rainbow » water » wyoming » yellowstone national park »

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Comments from the Community

Posted By: Robert Bynum
about 10 years, 8 months ago
I hiked up that hill and took virtually the exact same picture on 6/26/2013 this year. Very nice write up. Good job.

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