The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1914-06-22
YELLOWSTONE IS
BOOK OF NATURE
Ideal Field for Study Abounds in
the National Park

As is now generally known, Yellow
stone park is located i'm northwestern
Wyoming, with an >nportant strip in
Montana, on the north, and one i'm Ida
no, on the west. AS established by law
it's area is 1912 square miles, the larg-
est OF our national parks. on the
northwest, north. east and south il is
quite closely hemmed i'm by high noun
tain ranges, whose highest peaks at
tain an altitude OF from 10000 to 12,-
600 or $4,000 feet above sea level.
Between these ranges the park pla-
teau is a very undulating one, from
1000 To $500 feet elevation above the
sea with numerous mountain ranges
and peaks To be found. 1t is "A region
OF which rain and snowfall, particular
ly between autumn and spring, and the
forest development is great and the
park flora unusual and varied. The
great continental divide extends from
the southeastern corner northwesterly
in an irregular line across the park,
and the tourist crosses il between Up
per Geyser Basin and Yellowstone
lake, in n region of wild grandeur and
primeval beauty.
word that will thoroughly denote
the general character of the park is the
word comprehensive one may enjoy
the park, i'm moro or less superficial
way, but the student will find much
more here than the passing enjoyment
Of viewing geysers, canyons, hot
springs, etc.
Park Is Beauty Spot.
In the way OF scenic attractions, the
park is certainly noteworthy, as IL has
high mountains. beautiful valleys, is
threaded by perfect network of
mountain trout streams; has a large
number OF lakes, including Yellowstone
lake, some twenty miles long by an
extreme width OF sixteen miles: has "a
large number of beautiful waterfalls
and canyons OF surprising interest
Besides these more or less general
features there are the thousands Of hot
springs, paint pots, and the many gey-
Sers with their other related phenome-
ma, which place the park in a class en-
tirely by itself, in all the world. In
addition to this, the wild animals
which are found here-deer, bear. an
telope, elk, BUFFALO, etc, which are seen
daily by tourists traversing the park;
the beavers In their ponds, and the
several varieties of trout which are
found i'm the streams and lakes consti-
tute the park the most wonderful fish
ing preserve in the country, all serve
10 attract all classes of people and
travellers to this unique region in tho
heart of the Rockies.
Discovered in 1869.
The park was. practically, discovered
in 1SG9-70, when it was explored by
some Montana gentleman. who first
made public. to any great extent,
knowledge of what was to be found
there. Portions of the park. however,
We're visited as far back as 1907 by
John Golfer, one of the returning Lewis
and Clark expedition. and subsequently
by early day trappers and explorers,
but the stories of those days were dis
believed
Those visiting the park, who are in
clined to look beyond the mere surface
Of things and To study into the causes
for it's existence and the reasons for it's
present contiguration and physical as
poets. will find abundant opportunity
to interest themselves. The book of
nature unfolded here must be studied
to know and understand it, and a very
wonderful book it is. Botany, forestry,
peol gy in it's many departments orni-
theology, pisciculture and other depart
ments of scientific knowledge form. in
many respects, an open book to the
The flora of the park is. indeed. a
very fine one. The great differences in 1!
found in the park naturally |
reflect themselves i'm the flowers and !
shrubs and trees to be found, and at |
ford those botanically inclined a wide !
field for study and recreation. In geol-
ogy. the situation is even more pro-
nounced. The oldest of the geological |
rocks are found here-the massive |
GRANTEES, gneisses, etc, and the waters
which once overlooked the region ,
formed sedimentary rocks thousands
Df feet thick. Then in the course of
time came the period OF fire when Vul-
can reigned.
Formations of Lava.
Three principal mountains of the
park; Electric peak, on the north:
Mount Sheridan. well To the south and
seen from all points on Yellowstone
AXE. and Mount Washburn, near the
-,rand Cnnvnn and frnn1 the summit