VALLEYS.

These form an exceedingly important part of the Park topography. The largest is Junction Valley, including its branches along the Yellowstone and the Lamar Rivers. It is an extensive, grassy tract, stretching well back upon the mountain sides, and forming a fine pasturage for game. For scientific research, its fossil forests and other features make it an extremely interesting section.

Hayden Valley is the next in size and importance, and occupies an important tract along the Yellowstone River, between the Lake and Falls, mostly on the west side, in the vicinity of Alum Creek.

The Madison Valley, and its extensions up the Firehole and Gibbon Rivers, are chiefly noteworthy as being the locality of the three great geyser regions of the Park.

The Swan Lake Flats, Willow Park, the Shoshone and Falls River Basins, are other important examples of typical mountain valleys.

ALTITUDES.

The lowest point in the Park is at the junction of the Yellowstone and the Gardiner Rivers, 5,360 feet above sea level; the highest is the summit of Electric Peak, six miles distant, 11,155 feet. To give a general idea of the altitudes of different points in the Park, particularly of those which the tourist visits, the following list is presented: [AT]

Gardiner, Mont.5,400feet.
Mammoth Hot Springs hotel6,215"
Glen Creek Bridge above Golden Gate7,245"
Indian Creek Bridge7,275"
Beaver Lake7,360"
Norris Road Junction7,470"
Gibbon Meadows7,315"
Gibbon and Firehole Rivers, junction of6,780"
Lower Geyser Basin (mouth of Nez Percé Creek)7,125"
Upper Geyser Basin (near Castle Geyser)7,300"
Mouth of Spring Creek7,600"
Isa Lake, Continental Divide8,300"
Yellowstone Lake7,741"
Road at Mud Volcano7,705"
Cañon Hotel7,850"
Junction Valley near Yancey’s6,150"
Divide between the Black-tail and Gardiner6,550"

[AT] From profile of road system. For additional elevations, see list of names in [Appendix A].

SCENERY.