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Yellowstone Sees New Thermal Activity, Rare Geyser Eruption

Yellowstone National Park is reporting new thermal activity, including a rare eruption of Ear Spring.

The activity is in Upper Geyser Basin, on the other side of the Firehole River from Old Faithful.

Normally a placid pool, Ear Spring erupted 20 to 30 feet on Saturday. It was the first eruption of its size since 1957. Along with water, it flung coins, trash and other debris tourists have thrown into the spring over the years high into the air.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aLJlMCNmecs&feature=youtu.be

A new feature has also formed on Geyser Hill, and continues to pulse up and down directly under a section of boardwalk. The park has observed increased activity in other features in the area as well.

The park has closed some nearby boardwalks and trails.

This has also already been the most active year in more than three decades for Steamboat Geyser, in Yellowstone’s Norris Geyser Basin, which is the tallest active geyser in the world.

Park officials say changes like these are common, and do not indicate increased volcanic activity in the park as a whole.

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