The World’s Largest Active Geyser Is Bubbling Away In Wyoming

Wyoming - Yellowstone National Park, specifically - is home to the largest concentration of thermal features anywhere in the world. In fact, Yellowstone has more geysers within its boundaries than all other spots on Earth combined. While just about everyone knows about Old Faithful, the tall geyser that erupts every hour and a half with impressive predictability, there's a legendary geyser hiding in a back basin that deserves some attention, too. Steamboat Geyser is the world's tallest active geyser, and its massive eruptions are quite a sight to see.

Steamboat Geyser can be found in the Norris Geyser Basin, one of the most visited spots in Yellowstone National Park. Most of the time, Steamboat is settled and calm...

... but occasionally, it erupts with a fury that few have ever seen! In fact, only three other geysers in history have topped Steamboat's eruption height, and all three of those are now dormant features.

Like any geyser eruption, Steamboat goes off in phases - first a water phase, and then a steam phase. When this massive geyser erupts, water reaches heights of over 300 feet!

Steamboat eruptions aren't as common or as predictable as Old Faithful, though, so it's a matter of luck and patience if you want to see this fascinating wonder.

The force of a major eruption is so powerful that it has dropped silica and water on cars in the parking lot, broken and washed away mature pine trees, and has been known to wake nearby campers from their slumber.

Steamboat's eruption phases can occur days, weeks, or even years apart. Lately, the geyser has been slightly more active, with over 110 events in the past three years.

Minor eruptions are much more common, so it's worth a stroll through the Norris Geyser Basin any time of day. Who knows, you may get lucky and witness history!

You can find more information on recent and historical eruptions of Steamboat Geyser on the NPS website, here.