When we arrived at Norris (formerly Gibbon) Geyser Basin, I was so cold I could scarcely use my limbs. The first attraction was a great, boiling spring at the left as we entered the basin. I immediately felt the change in the atmosphere, and soon got warm after reaching the board walk under which the boiling water was flowing, the hot steam everywhere being forced out through apertures.
Here was my first sight of the clear water geysers. The Constant, with a maximum height of twenty feet, plays at intervals of from thirty to sixty seconds. The Minute Man plays at intervals of from one to three minutes with a duration of about the same length of time. In this basin are also the Echinus, the Fearless, the Monarch, with a maximum height of fifty feet, playing at intervals of twenty-five to sixty minutes, the New Crater, the Whirligig, and the Valentine. The maximum height of the Valentine is a hundred feet and the time of eruptions varies from twenty-two to thirty hours.
The Black Growler Steam Vent growled continually, sending forth great volumes of steam. The deposit around the crater is black in some places. The vent north of the Black Growler is called the Hurricane. It looks much like the former, but is not so active. The Bath Tub does not erupt, but is in constant agitation. Emerald Pool is a large lake of boiling water, green in appearance.
New Crater Geyser is surrounded by large blocks of yellow rock. In the vicinity of this geyser, in 1891, a commotion occurred, very much like an earthquake, when great volumes of water were forced out. Since then there have been only ordinary eruptions, about every three minutes. The form of the crater is such that the water is prevented from attaining any great height.
Monarch Geyser, near the base of the hill, is almost surrounded by beautifully colored rocks. The crater has two openings, the larger of which is twenty feet long and three feet wide. Eruptions occur without warning, and water is thrown a hundred feet high. The intervals between eruptions are about six hours.
NORRIS GEYSER BASIN © Haynes, St. Paul
The Fearless Geyser throws water in every direction, apparently defying those who wish to approach it. Norris is a new geyser, and is probably changing more rapidly than any other in the basin. One never knows what changes a season may bring forth.
The Minute Man is always interesting, especially on account of its regularity. Its crater seems originally to have been merely a fissure in a rock.