How does volcanism shape Yellowstone's ecology?

Yellowstone National Park features a massive dormant supervolcano located underneath Yellowstone Lake and the surrounding caldera. Ongoing volcanism fuels well over half of the world's geysers and hydrothermal features, providing a unique foundation for the region's landscape. This volcanic activity sits at the heart of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, which is the largest nearly intact ecosystem in the Earth's northern temperate zone.

What we know

• Yellowstone Lake covers part of the Yellowstone Caldera, which is the largest super volcano on the North American continent. [2]
• Well over half of the world's geysers and hydrothermal features are located in Yellowstone, fueled by ongoing volcanism. [2]
• Lava flows and rocks from volcanic eruptions cover most of the land area of Yellowstone National Park. [2]
• The Yellowstone Caldera hotspot is located directly within the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. [5]

Where to go next

• how it workedWhat creates the geysers and hydrothermal features in Yellowstone?
• the bigger pictureWhat is the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem?
• what followedHow were gray wolves reintroduced to Yellowstone?
• a case in pointWhere did the Yellowstone cutthroat trout originate?
• whenWhen was Yellowstone established as a national park?
• an unexpected connectionHow did a fish cross the continental divide?The Yellowstone cutthroat trout crossed the continental divide through a small connecting creek known as the Parting of the Waters, moving between Atlantic and Pacific drainages.

Sources

• [1]Yellowstone National Park (Wikidata Q351) · CC0 1.0
• [2]Yellowstone National Park · CC BY-SA 4.0
• [3]Yellowstone cutthroat trout · CC BY-SA 4.0
• [4]History of wolves in Yellowstone · CC BY-SA 4.0
• [5]Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem · CC BY-SA 4.0