Chinese Spring is a small, clear, blue pool with a very defined and raised geyserite ring with a sawtooth texture on the top. The water is constantly boiling and steaming. This ring raises the water level above the ground surface, but does not contain it as water spills into the surrounding sinter-covered area. Bright orange thermophiles line the outwash that flows into the Firehole River. Chinese Spring has rare, but high-height, eruptions. Its name comes from an instance in past park history of international visitors doing laundry in the spring when it erupted and threw their clothes high into the air.

Chinese Spring has an average temperate of 197.4°F (91.9°C), an average pH of 8.2, and an average conductivity of 1851 uS/cm.

Hot Springs

Hot springs are the most common hydrothermal features in Yellowstone. Their plumbing has no constrictions.

Superheated water cools as it reaches the surface, sinks, and is replaced by hotter water from below.

This circulation prevents water from reaching the temperature needed to set off an eruption.

Upper Geyser Basin

The majority of world’s active geysers are in the Upper Geyser Basin, including Old Faithful. Only four other places in the world have large concentrations of hydrothermal features: Russia (Kamchatka), Chile, New Zealand, and Iceland.

The heat for the hydrothermal features comes from Yellowstone’s volcano. Molten rock or magma may be as close as 3-8 miles (5-13 km) underground. Rain and snow supply water that seeps down several thousand feet (more than a kilometer) below the surface where it is heated.

Underground cracks form a natural plumbing system. Hot water rises through the plumbing to produce hot springs and geysers.

Use Caution in Hydrothermal Areas

• Stay on boardwalks and designated trails.
• Hydrothermal water can severely burn you.
• Never run, push, or shove.
• Supervise children at all times.
• Do not scratch hydrothermal mats.

You are responsible for your safety.

Think safety, act safely. Yellowstone is a dangerous place.