The flow may also find its way into nearby features, causing changes in their behavior. Alive The overflow channels of geysers and hot springs are often brightly colored with minerals and microscopic life forms. Many of Norris's features, such as Echinus Geyser and Green Dragon Spring, release acidic water. Hardy microscopic plants like lime-green Cyanidium algae, thrive in these warm acid waters. These and other microscopic life forms are links to the emergence of life on earth billions of years ago.
Clear pools become muddy and boil violently, and some temporarily become geysers.
Features that typically behave as geysers may display altered eruption cycles or temporarily cease erupting. New features have been created during a disturbance although they seldom remain long-term attractions in the basin. Disturbances tend to last from a few days to more than a week. Why this happens is not fully understood. Features here may be served by multiple geothermal plumbing systems at varying depths.