Yellowstone’s Thermal Pools Are Hotter Than You Might Think
It's horrifying to hear stories from Yellowstone National Park about tourists who have gone rogue and had to be taken to the hospital because they failed to follow the rules. Those stories don't always have a happy ending, and that's tragic.
Over the last couple of years, we have heard about a person every year who thought it was a good idea to try to get close to one of the geysers and put their hand in to feel the heat.
One story was about a dog that ran off and fell into a thermal pool. When its owner chased after the dog, she suffered significant burns to the majority of her body.
Some of Yellowstone's most famous residents have also been known to get a little too close to the thermal pools, with horrific results. These cases are rare, but they've happened, and this year it happened.
How Hot Are the Hot Springs in Yellowstone National Park?
According to a post from earthpulse111 on Instagram, Yellowstone's hot springs can reach temperatures of over 192 degrees, which is hot enough to burn flesh upon contact. Not only the heat, but the acidity of the water will break down flesh and bones, breaking the body down in a few hours.
Bison have been known to congregate around the thermal pools to graze, rest, or warm up during the winter. The heartbreaking video captures the bison slipping and falling into the boiling water.
Hopefully, seeing this video will remind tourists that getting off the boardwalks, paths, or trails can be dangerous, and sometimes deadly.
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Gallery Credit: Kolby Fedore, Townsquare Media; Photos collected from Getty Images
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Gallery Credit: Tammie Toren