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The Geologic Story of Yellowstone National Park

Geology of YELLOWSTONE

Reading edition

A review of the geologic processes and events responsible for the spectacular natural wonders of the Yellowstone country, commemorating the 100th anniversary of the oldest and largest of our national parks.

For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office Washington, DC. 20402—Price $1.25 Stock Number 2401-1209

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Illustration from The Geologic Story of Yellowstone National Park

“* * * and behold! The whole country beyond was smoking with vapor from boiling springs, and burning with gases issuing from small craters, each of which was emitting a sharp, whistling sound. * * * The general face of the country was smooth and rolling, being a level plain, dotted with cone-shaped mounds. On the summit of these mounds were small craters from four to six feet in diameter. Interspersed among these on the level plain were larger craters, some of them four to six miles across. Out of these craters, issued blue flames and molten brimstone.”

Description credited to Joseph Meek, 1829; quotation from page 40 of the book “The Yellowstone National Park” by Hiram Martin Chittenden (as edited and published by Richard A. Bartlett, University of Oklahoma Press, Norman, Oklahoma, 1964). Photograph is of Midway Geyser Basin.

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Illustration from The Geologic Story of Yellowstone National Park

“Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, that the tract of land in the territories of Montana and Wyoming lying near the headwaters of the Yellowstone River is hereby reserved and withdrawn from settlement, occupancy, or sale under the laws of the United States, and dedicated and set apart as a public park or pleasuring ground for the benefit and enjoyment of the people * * *”

Approved March 1, 1872—signed by: James G. Blaine, Speaker of the House Schuyler Colfax, Vice-President of the United States and President of the Senate Ulysses S. Grant, President of the United States

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The Geologic Story of YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK

By William R. Keefer

Illustrated by John R. Stacy

Based on a planned series of technical reports resulting from comprehensive geologic studies in Yellowstone National Park by the author and his colleagues, H. R. Blank, Jr., R. L. Christiansen, R. O. Fournier, J. D. Love, L. J. P. Muffler, J. D. Obradovich, K. L. Pierce, H. J. Prostka, G. M. Richmond, Meyer Rubin, E. T. Ruppel, H. W. Smedes, A. H. Truesdell, H. A. Waldrop, and D. E. White.

GEOLOGICAL SURVEY BULLETIN 1347

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UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR ROGERS C. B. MORTON, Secretary

GEOLOGICAL SURVEY V. E. McKelvey, Director

Library of Congress catalog-card No. 79-169200

U. S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR · March 3, 1849
U. S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR · March 3, 1849

First printing 1971 (1972) Second printing 1972

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