The History Behind This National Park In Wyoming Is Truly Tragic

Wyoming is home to some of the nation's most breathtaking National Parks. Perhaps most famous of all is Yellowstone National Park. It's certainly the most famous national park to visit in Wyoming. Each year, this park welcomes millions of visitors from all over the world. Unfortunately, even though it's one of the best parks in Wyoming, it's also the site of tragic accidents. While the natural geysers and hot springs are mesmerizing, they're equally unforgiving and make for a harsh climate. If you're looking for things to do outside in Wyoming, or for hiking trails in Wyoming, this park has it all - but be careful and be wise when visiting, too. Read on to learn more.

Yellowstone National Park is considered to be one of the world’s earliest national parks, as it was signed into existence in 1872 by President Ulysses S. Grant. While the park is mostly in Wyoming, parts of it extend into Montana and Idaho. Yellowstone is roughly 3,460 square miles in size.

From as early as the park’s existence, there have been many injuries in the grounds of this pristine wilderness. In total, there are over 10,000 hot springs and geysers. Visitors who get too close to these hot spots put themselves in danger, often underestimating the power of such immensely concentrated heat. One of the first deaths in the park happened when a 7-year old boy fell into a hot spring in 1890.

Another young boy suffered the same cruel fate in 1970. Walking alongside his parents on a boardwalk, he tripped and fell into the nearly-boiling waters of Crested Pool. In 1980, a 24-year-old visitor from California suffered fatal third-degree burns after attempting to rescue a dog that had fallen into the Celestine Pool, whose waters reach a scalding 202 degrees.

Not all burns experienced in the park are deadly, although they can cause serious damage. In the past 10 years, at least 16 visitors who were burned by hot springs or geysers were immediately flown out of the park and into Salt Lake City for intensive care.

While Yellowstone has witnessed incredibly tragic fatalities, it is also important to remember that these incidents happen quite infrequently when you consider the amount of visitors to the park each year. That being said, it's always best to exercise extreme caution and take heed of the park's paved walkways and any advice or warnings from rangers.

As you can see from the above photographs, Yellowstone National Park is a breathtaking landmark and is a must-visit for anyone in Wyoming. Learning about its tragic history can ensure that visitors of the future have a safer and more informed experience. We want you to have a good time! Just know the dangers and be careful and you will.