Yellowstone National Park: Hydrothermal System

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Yellowstone National Park is home to nearly 10,000 hydrothermal features (Nat'l Park Service U.S Dept. of the Interior). The hydrothermal features are caused by hydrothermal systems. These systems are dependent upon the molten rock beneath Yellowstone’s surface. Yellowstone’s thermal features are not only dependent upon molten rock but also microorganisms called thermophiles. Thermophiles depend upon the extreme heat from the magma below the surface (Nat'l Park Service U.S Dept. of the Interior). Mudpots and fumaroles are just a small portion of the 10,000 features at Yellowstone. Mudpots are formed from trapped surface water that is heated by steam rising from the ground. Microorganisms help convert hydrogen sulfide into sulfuric acid. The

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