GEOLOGICAL SUEVEY OF THE TEEEITOEIES. 



125 



THE BEE-HIVE. 



the geysers of this basin. I have therefore left undescribed many as 

 interesting as those noticed in the preceding pages. 



On our return to the lake from this basin, we jjassed up the Fire-Hole 

 Eiver to its source in the divide. Early in the morning, as we were 

 leaving the valley, the grand old geyser which stands sentinel at the 

 head of the valley gave us a magnificent parting display, and with little 

 or no preliminary warning it shot up a column of water about C feet in 

 diameter to the height of 100 Fig. 60. 



to 150 feet, and by a succes- 

 sion of impulses seemed to 

 hold it up steadily for the 

 space of fifteen minutes, the 

 great mass of water falling 

 directly back into the basin, 

 and flowing over the edges 

 and down the sides in large 

 streams. When the action 

 ceases, the water recedes be- 

 yond sight, and nothing is 

 heard but the occasional es- 

 cape of steam until another 

 exhibition occurs. This is one 

 of the most accommodating 

 geysers in the basin, and during our stay played once an hour quite 

 regularly. On account of its apparent regularity, and its position 

 overlooking the valley, it was called by Messrs. Langford and Doane 

 "Old Faithful." It has built up a crater about 20 feet high around its 

 base, and all about it are decorations similar to those previously de- 

 scribed 



On the morning of August 6, we 

 ascended the mountains at the head 

 of Fire-Hole Eiver, on our return to 

 the hot-spring camp on the Yellow- 

 stone Lake. We had merely caught 

 a glimpse of the wonderful physical 

 phenomena of this remarkable val- 

 ley. We had just barely gleaned a 

 few of the surface observations, 

 which only sharpened our desire for 

 a larger knowledge. There is no 

 doubt in my Diind that these geysers 

 are more powerful at certain seasons 

 of the year than at others. We saw 

 them in midsummer, when the sur- 

 face waters are greatly diminished. 

 In the spring, at the time of the melt- 

 ing of the snows, the display of the 

 first-class geysers must be more fre- 

 quent and powerful. Temperatures may vary somewhat, though those 

 given on the chart maybe relied on as correct. We left this valley, 

 with its beautiful scenery, its hot springs and geysers, with great 

 regret. 



Mr. Elliott has sketched an ideal section of a portion of the Upper 

 Geyser Valley, (Fig. 63,) which may convey a clearer conception of 

 the way in which we may suppose the waters of many of the springs 

 reach the surface. The lower portion of the section is basalt, then lake 



Fig, 61 



STILL HOT SPRING AND PYRAMID, 

 . GEYSER BASIN. 



