The Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone is the first large canyon on the Yellowstone River downstream from Yellowstone Falls in Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming. The canyon is approximately 24 miles long, between 800 and 1,200 ft deep and from .25 to .75 mi wide. The colors in the canyon are a result of hydrothermal alteration. The rhyolite in the canyon contains a variety of different iron compounds. Exposure to the elements caused the rocks to change colors. The rocks are oxidizing; in effect, the canyon is rusting. The colors indicate the presence or absence of water in the individual iron compounds. Most of the yellows in the canyon are the result of iron present in the rock rather than, as many people think, sulfur. Wikipedia This image was processed as an HDR (High Dynamic Range) composition.
Cascading from the 590,000 year old Canyon Rhyolite lava flow, Lower Yellowstone Falls is the largest volume waterfall in the Rocky Mountains and are 308 feet high, or nearly twice as high as Niagara Falls. The volume of water flowing over Lower Yellowstone Falls can vary from 680 cu ft/s in the autumn, to 8,400 cu ft/s at peak runoff in late springtime. The flow rate of Lower Yellowstone Falls is much less than that of Niagara Falls, as the Yellowstone River is only 70 feet at the point at which it goes over the lower falls. Wikipedia
Shrubby Cinquefoil (Dasiphora fruticosa) thrives in dry to wet areas and rocky regions to open meadows. This deciduous shrub can reach a height of 3 to 4 feet. The leaves are small and compound, with fine hairs. The bright yellow flowers can be found from April to July. When the plant is mature, the bark becomes flaky, papery and thin. This hardy plant is often used as an ornamental shrub. It's a great solution to erosion and can be used to stabilize slopes. NPS
