Grand Prismatic Spring, Rainbow Color Hot Springs in United States

Grand Prismatic Spring began to attract the attention of researchers when geologists working at the Hayden Geological Survey discovered it in 1871.

IPHEDIA.com - Because of its uniqueness, Grand Prismatic Spring is a rainbow-colored hot spring that attracts many tourists from the world. This beautiful, colorful rainbow pond is part of Yellowstone National Park, located in Wyoming, United States.

Grand Prismatic Spring has an area ranging from 250 to 300 feet. Its depth reaches 160 feet. This hot spring pool is called Grand Prismatic Spring, in accordance with colors that resemble colors rainbow, such as red, orange, yellow, green, and blue.

Every year hot spring releases at least 560 gallons hot water at 160 degrees Fahrenheit every minute. Water there boils every time because heat that comes from underground vents that are part Yellowstone volcanic canal. But instead of forming a geyser like in other parts Yellowstone region, hot water here forms a giant pool.

According to City Data, this hot spring was first discovered by European explorers in 1839. One explorers noted in his journal that there was a lake in which the water was boiling. Meanwhile, according to Wikipedia, Grand Prismatic Spring began to attract the attention of researchers when geologists working at Hayden Geological Survey discovered it in 1871.

Grand Prismatic Spring is largest hot spring in United States and third largest in the world after Frying Pan Lake in New Zealand and Boiling Lake in Dominica.

Visitors who come to place may wonder what causes colors rainbow in hot spring. Middle part is bright blue, looks like a deep sea. Outside is green and yellow. While outer side is red like a volcanic lava liquid.

Red color comes from certain bacteria whose bodies emit a red pigment. These bacteria form a microbial layer around lake. Although they often produce red, but these bacteria can also produce green and yellow pigments. Colors produced depend on the content of chlorophyll and carotenoids contained in the body.

Changing lake water temperatures also affect color pigments they produce. During summer, outer layers lake will tend to be orange or red. While in winter color will turn dark green. These bacteria do not affect color  water in middle lake because in that part temperature is very high, so the bacteria cannot live in it.

Blue color itself can occur because middle lake water is very clear and deep, so that it is able to absorb and reflect blue color of the color spectrum in atmosphere. This blue water phenomenon is same as you see in sea and Lake Baikal, lake with clearest water in the world.

Due to very high temperature, visitors can not approach lake, let alone swim in it. So, they can only enjoy beauty Grand Prismatic Spring from trail built next to it or from surrounding pine trees on a small hill. (as/ip)