The morning news., 1897-07-12
YELLOWSTONE LAKE.
A Peculiar Body of Water in che yell
IOwstOne Park.

IOWst0ne Park.
Mammoth Hot Springs. Yellowstone
Park. Wyo, July 5.-The Yellowstone lake
is without doubt one of the most wonderful
body of water in the United States It
is noted for so many things that when it
is compared with similar bodies of water
the world over it far surpasses them in
every comparison. The beauty of its sur
roundings is not equaled by any of the ia
nous lakes of Europe; its scenery being
far beyond description. 1t is the largest
body of water at that altitude. 7,7Ss feet in
the United States. IL Mount Washing
ton, in New Hampshire the highest peak
In the eastern states. could be sunk in this
large body of water, with its base at the
.evel of the sea, its apex would be nearly
half a mile below the surface of the lake.
1t has a peculiar shape, rudely represent
ing that of an open palm of the right hand,
fixing the name of the Thumb and Fin
gers upon the bays, which are separated
by long and narrow peninsulas, which in
dent its southern and western sides. The
lake is about twenty miles north and
south, by fifteen miles east and west,
across the Thumb and palm, making and
area OF $50 square miles. It's depth Is un-
known, sounding lines of 300 feet failing
TO find bottom.
Technically speaking the Yellowstone
lake is simply a widening of the Yellow
stone river, which has it's source in the
Yellowstone mountains, some fifty miles
distant The river empties into the lake
at the little finger and discharges at the
wrist Besides Beaver Dam creek, and
Pelican creek, it has no tributaries of any
size. The few streams running into the
lake are mainly charged with mineral. The
shores Of this body of water are lined with
sulphur, alum and alkali springs num-
Der Of springs of the same character boil
UP from its depths. making the water at
some PAGES warm and murky. Generally
speaking, however, the lake Is of crystal
clearness, the average temperature being
GO degrees Fahrenheit. The lake is dot
ted with islands of an emerald hue, whose
shores are of a sparkling sand, composed
of bright pebbles, crystals and bits of OBJ
sidan, forming a beautiful setting.
The main shores of the lake are a reg
ular geological wondershop in themselves.
Especially is this true of the northeastern
shore. At Concretion cove. a prolongation
of Mary's bay, between the mouth of Peli-
can creek and Steamboat Point, the beach
is covered with many curious specimens
Of indurated clays shales and fossils.
on the east side of the lake Is Diamond
beach. a stretch Of shore for five miles
Its surface Is composed almost entirely of
obsidian, and when the sun shines upon
II sparkles and flashes as If il were a bed
of diamonds, rubies and emeralds Near
the foot OF the lake, on the north shore.
Is a natural bridge spanning tumultuous
Bridge creek at a hight of forty feet. It's
arch is ten feet wide and of solid rock
! twenty feet long affording a fine car
| riage way.
The lake rs destitute OF all kinds OF FISH
| save trout They are large and voracious
in the extreme, particularly for grasshop-
| pers. IL is said. and IL Is no doubt true.
that at every point along the shores there
| are 80 many fish that II is little sport TO
! catch them; that two MEN can catch them
| faster than six can prepare them for the
cook. owing to the boiling pools on the
| shores OF the lake at various points, II is
! easy for an angler to land his fish and
/ cook Il by dropping Il In a boiling pool
/ behind him without changing his posi-
/ tiou or even unlocking his victim. But
some Of these trout are not good to eat.
| as their intestines are infested with long
! slender white worms, which sometimes
! bury into the flesh. Prof. Liedy calls them
| Dibothrium cordicops. II is always found
/ In little sacs imbedded in the flesh. All
| trout Of the cold water tributaries OF the
/ Yellowstone river below the lake to the
| first rapids contain these parasites. Else
where In the park the trout are perfectly
/ good, and abound In large quantities