Today we’re visiting two Yellowstone features that are fairly close to each other physically but are very different in nature: a lava flow that is over a hundred thousand years old and one of the hottest hydrothermal features in the park.
First, an overview. This is how most of us would see it:
Fortunately, some geologists have shared their insights online for each of these geological wonders.
Obsidian Cliffs
Dr. Shawn Willsey, like all geologists, gets up close to the formations he is studying:
More information:
- Yellowstone and historic tribes
- The importance of Obsidian Cliff
- The MVP of Yellowstone stones
Roaring Mountain
YVO’s Scientist-in-charge Dr. Michael Poland not only tells us about Roaring Mountain but also gives us the April 2026 Yellowstone update:
More information:
- The mountain that roared
- Map of active thermal areas
- Podcast: Taking Yellowstone’s temperature from space
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For lagniappe:
Featured image:
- Obsidian Cliff (top): James St. John, CC BY-SA 2.0.
- Roaring Mountain in winter (bottom): NPS/Ashton Hooker, public domain
Flight To Wonder 