Hot spot: Yellowstone road melts, sites closed

[Ptah]

CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) -- The ever-changing thermal geology of Yellowstone National
Park has created a hot spot that melted an asphalt road and closed access to
popular geysers and other attractions at the height of tourist season, officials
said Thursday.

As they examined possible fixes, park officials warned visitors not to hike into
the affected area, where the danger of stepping through solid-looking soil into
boiling-hot water was high.

"There are plenty of other great places to see thermal features in the park,"
Yellowstone spokesman Al Nash said. "I wouldn't risk personal injury to see
these during this temporary closure."

Naturally changing thermal features often damage Yellowstone's roads and
boardwalks. Steaming potholes in asphalt roads and parking lots - marked off
by traffic cones - are fairly common curiosities.

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_YELLOWSTONE_HOT_ROAD?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

[uppityperson]

1. Yellowstone is an amazing place with the active geothermal stuff going on.

It made me feel insignificant as well as awe stricken. Last time I drove through, several yrs ago, there were parts of roads blocked off due to changing hot spots. It is quite the place.

[Ptah]

2. It's one of my two favorite National Parks.

Glacier is my other.

I grew up in Montana and both were frequent family destinations.

[pokerfan]

3. Mine too

but sadly, Glacier is going to be in need of a name change in the not too distant future.

Of the estimated 150 glaciers which existed in the park in the mid-19th century, only 25 active glaciers remained by 2010.[4] Scientists studying the glaciers in the park have estimated that all the glaciers may disappear by 2020 if the current climate patterns persist.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glacier_National_Park_%28U.S.%29

[Ptah]

4. Maybe change it to Carved-By-Glaciers National Park.

[Javaman]

5. A little hydrogen peroxide works wonders for my dogs hot spots. nt

[hunter]

6. Pour a couple truckloads of gravel on it, you're good to go...

... right?

[sylvanus]

7. I always wondered...

Why the Yellowstone hotspot isn't surrounded by
hydrothermal steam turbines.

[link:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geothermal_power_in_Iceland|