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Yellowstone Caldera Facts & Worksheets

Yellowstone Caldera is a massive crater formed by a cataclysmic volcanic eruption 640,000 years ago in the western-central portion of Yellowstone National Park in northwestern Wyoming.

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Yellowstone Caldera is a massive crater formed by a cataclysmic volcanic eruption 640,000 years ago in the western-central portion of Yellowstone National Park in northwestern Wyoming.

See the fact file below for more information on Yellowstone Caldera, or you can download our 26-page Yellowstone Caldera worksheet pack to utilize within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

GEOLOGIC HISTORY

  • One of the world’s largest active volcanic systems is Yellowstone. The region’s history dates back to 16.5 million years ago when the area that is now southeastern Oregon was located above a hotspot, which is a vast plume of hot material rising from the earth’s mantle. 
  • Around this time, the first of a string of devastating volcanic eruptions started, moving northeast as the North American Plate slid over the immobile hotspot.
  • Around 631,000 years ago, a tremendous volcanic outburst produced the Yellowstone Caldera. Most of the caldera was later filled by lava flows; it is currently 30 x 45 miles in size.
  • The Washburn Hot Springs overlook, located south of Dunraven Pass, offers the best views of its rim.
  • Throughout the previous 2.1 million years, it has erupted numerous times, three of which were enormous and covered the surrounding area in ash. One of those eruptions produced the 30-by-45-mile-wide Yellowstone Caldera some 631,000 years ago.
  • The Yellowstone region was formed by massive mountain-building, volcanism, faulting, and glaciation during the Cenozoic era, the last 66 million years of Earth’s history. 
  • In the north and east edges of the park, the Absaroka Range was created around 50 million years ago as a result of several volcanic eruptions.

LOCATION

  • The animal and forest preserve located on a vast stretch that runs through the states of Wyoming, Idaho, and Montana is known as Yellowstone National Park. Yellowstone Caldera is also referred to as the “supervolcano” that sits beneath the park. 
  • While the majority of Yellowstone is in Wyoming, the volcano itself is situated there.
  • A heated region of rock that is molten or semi-molten and is known as magma lies beneath the ground above the Yellowstone supervolcano. 
  • The ground swells as magma flows into a magma chamber or reservoir located 6–10 kilometers (4-6 miles) under the park. The ground collapses as the magma starts to harden and cool.
  • Bob Christiansen from the US Geological Survey used geological field research in the 1960s and 1970s to find the Yellowstone Caldera. 
  • The smoldering Yellowstone supervolcano is a subterranean heat source for the hot springs, mud pots, and boiling geysers. The 45-by-30-mile caldera is around the size of Rhode Island. 

HAZARDS IN YELLOWSTONE CALDERA

  • The dangers associated with Yellowstone’s volcano that are most likely to occur include hydrothermal explosions. Thermal features can erupt as geysers hurl rocks and create shallow craters with little to no notice. 
  • While less frequent, larger eruptions could throw hot water and boulders a few thousand feet into the air, smaller explosions are more common and can impact an area tens of feet in diameter.
  • Damage from big earthquakes in the magnitude 7 range could also cause hazards in Yellowstone Caldera. There are a few thousand earthquakes per year, but 99 % of them have a magnitude of 2 or lower and cannot be felt by people. 
  • Because of the faults and rocks, the maximum magnitude of earthquakes that can occur inside the caldera is 6. 
  • The likelihood is high that a second catastrophic caldera-forming Yellowstone eruption would change global weather patterns and have a significant impact on human activities, especially agricultural production, for one to two decades.

SCIENTIFIC PREDICTIONS

  • Volcanologists, who have been monitoring this activity since 1923, estimate that between 2004 and 2009, the ground rose by around 25 cm (9.8 inches). Then in 2010, the ground started to sink. Scientists speculate about the possibility of an impending Yellowstone eruption due to the period of gradual, continuous growth.
  • Concerns have been raised regarding the potential intensity of the eruption if it occurs.
  • In addition, Yellowstone experiences between 1,000 and 3,000 earthquakes a year. Most have magnitudes of three or fewer, making them essentially undetectable. 
  • But, these earthquakes help scientists understand how quickly the magma chamber beneath the park is expanding. An increase in the shaking and rattling heard throughout the park may indicate a recent infusion of magma into the reservoir.
  • The actual average of the two gaps between the three Yellowstone eruptions is approximately 730,000 years, which is a significant amount longer than the interval since the most recent super-eruption. 
  • Nonetheless, given Yellowstone’s volcanic history and the ongoing presence of magma beneath the Yellowstone caldera, we cannot completely rule out the potential of another similar eruption taking place at some point in the future.
  • A volcanic explosion the size of those in Yellowstone’s past would have severe implications for the United States and the entire world, in addition to the daily earthquake hazards Yellowstone faces. 
  • Although such predictions are challenging to imagine, researchers can only assume that Yellowstone will erupt once more based on the continuing activity they have been seeing.

TOURISM

  • Due in large part to the fact that Yellowstone Park is the world’s oldest national park, it is a hugely popular tourist attraction. 
  • A dangerous sleeping giant is one of the things that makes it so famous: it is located beneath the well-known hot springs. The park, is, in fact, the caldera of a supervolcano.
  • The numerous active fumaroles, mud pots, hot springs, and geysers in Yellowstone are well known. 
  • Each is a specific opening in the earth’s crust where volcanic activity occurs, releasing gasses and steam. Half the geothermal features on our planet are located here. 
  • Moreover, Yellowstone is home to two-thirds of all geysers in the world. The Yellowstone Caldera heat flow is thought to be 40 times greater than the average for the entire planet.
  • The Flat Mountain Arm of Yellowstone Lake, Lake Butte, Gibbon Falls, and Lewis Falls are just a few of the numerous noteworthy natural attractions in Yellowstone Park that lie close to the caldera.
  • The lakes and other water features in the park are equally impressive in their own right as the caldera because seven rivers, including the Missouri, Yellowstone, Shoshone, and Snake Rivers, have their beginnings here. Hundreds of local plant and animal species call them home.

Yellowstone Caldera Worksheets

This fantastic bundle includes everything you need to know about the Yellowstone Caldera across 26 in-depth pages. These ready-to-use worksheets are perfect for teaching kids about the Yellowstone Caldera. Yellowstone Caldera is a massive crater formed by a cataclysmic volcanic eruption 640,000 years ago in the western-central portion of Yellowstone National Park in northwestern Wyoming.

Complete List of Included Worksheets

Below is a list of all the worksheets included in this document.

  1. Yellowstone Caldera Facts
  2. A Caldera
  3. The Land of Yellowstone
  4. Yellowstone Caldera Map
  5. Keeping the Distance
  6. Yellowstone Wildlife
  7. Green Imagery
  8. Yellowstone Art
  9. A Proper Tourist
  10. Promoting Yellowstone
  11. Our Volcano

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Yellowstone Caldera?

The Yellowstone Caldera is a massive volcanic caldera located in Yellowstone National Park in the United States. It is the result of a massive eruption that occurred approximately 640,000 years ago and is one of the largest volcanic features on Earth.

Is the Yellowstone Caldera still active?

Yes, the Yellowstone Caldera is still active and is closely monitored by scientists for any signs of volcanic activity. However, there is currently no indication of an imminent eruption.

What would happen if the Yellowstone Caldera erupted?

If the Yellowstone Caldera were to erupt, it would be a catastrophic event with global implications. The eruption would likely result in widespread devastation, including the release of massive amounts of ash and volcanic gases, which could cause significant damage to crops and infrastructure, and potentially lead to a temporary cooling of the global climate.

How likely is an eruption of the Yellowstone Caldera?

While the Yellowstone Caldera is still active and could potentially erupt in the future, the likelihood of an eruption occurring in the near term is considered low. Scientists closely monitor the area for any signs of increased volcanic activity and have systems in place to detect any changes in the volcano’s behavior.

Can Yellowstone Caldera be used as a source of geothermal energy?

Yes, the geothermal energy generated by the Yellowstone Caldera has been harnessed for use in power plants that generate electricity. However, the potential for geothermal energy is limited by the risks associated with drilling and extracting heat from such a volatile and active volcanic system.

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Use With Any Curriculum

These worksheets have been specifically designed for use with any international curriculum. You can use these worksheets as-is, or edit them using Google Slides to make them more specific to your own student ability levels and curriculum standards.

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