Geologic history
Dramatic colors and shapes
Hydrothermally altered rhyolite
A tree on the precipice edge of an enormous erosional feature imparts a sense of scale in Yellowstone. Most of the yellows in the canyon are the result of iron existing in the rock walls.
“As I took in the scene, I realized my own littleness, my helplessness, my dread exposure to destruction, my inability to cope with or even comprehend the mighty architecture of nature.” – Nathaniel P. Langford