Yellowstone Facts

World’s First National Park

A designated World Heritage Site
A designated Biosphere Reserve Site
3,472 square miles or 8,987 square km (2,219,789 acres or 898,317 ectares)
63 air miles north to south (102 km) 54 air miles east to west (87 km)
96% in Wyoming
3% in Montana
1% in Idaho Highest Point:
11,358 ft / 3,462 m (Eagle Peak)
Lowest Point: 5,282 ft / 1,610 m (Reese Creek)
Larger than Rhode Island and Delaware combined
Approximately 5% of park is covered by water; 15% is grassland; and 80% is forested
Precipitation ranges from 10 inches (26 cm) at the north boundary to 80 inches (205 cm) in the southwest corner
Temperatures (average) range from
9° F / -13 C in January to 80° F / 27 C in July at Mammoth Hot Springs Record High Temp: 98° F / 37 C (Lamar 1936) Record Low Temp: -66° F / -54 C (Madison 1933)
WILDLIFE: 7 species of native ungulates 2 species of bears
Approximately 50 species of other mammals, 311 recorded species of birds (148 nesting species), 18 species of fish (6 non-native), 6 species of reptiles, 4 species of amphibians, 5 species protected as "threatened or endangered". Threatened animals include: bald eagle, grizzly bear, and lynx. Endangered animals include: whooping crane, gray wolf. FLORA: 8 species of conifers
Approximately 80% of forest is comprised of lodgepole pine
More than 1,700 species of native vascular plants More than 170 species of exotic (non-native) plants, 186 species of lichens
GEOLOGY: An Active Volcano
Approximately 2,000 earthquakes annually
Approximately 10,000 thermal features
More than 300 geysers
One of the world’s largest calderas, measuring 45 by 30 miles (72 by 48 km)
One of the world's largest petrified forests
Approximately 290 waterfalls, 15 ft. or higher, flowing year-round tallest waterfall: Lower Falls of the Yellowstone River at 308 ft. (94 m)
YELLOWSTONE LAKE: 136 sq. miles (35,400 hectares) of surface area, 110 miles (177 km) of shoreline, 20 miles (32 km) north to south 14 miles (23 km) east to west, average depth: 140 feet (43 m), maximum depth: about 400 feet (122 m)
CULTURAL RESOURCE:S 1,000+ documented archeological sites, 1,106 historic structures, 6 National Historic Landmarks (Obsidian Cliff & 5 buildings)
Nearly 200,000 museum objects, 20,000 titles in Park Research Library, 2,500 linear feet of historic documents, about 90,000 photographic prints and negatives 21 Affiliated American Indian tribes
ROADS AND TRAILS: 5 park entrances, 466 mi / 750 km of roads (310 mi/499 km paved miles), 950 mi / 1,529 km of backcountry trails, 97 trailheads, 287 backcountry campsites
VISITATION 2000: - 2,838,233 visitors; Record year: 1992 – 3,144,405 visitors; Winter visitors: Approximately 140,000
FACILITIES: 9 visitor centers and museums 9 hotels/lodges (2,238 hotel rooms/cabins), 7 NPS-operated campgrounds (454 sites), 5 concession-operated campgrounds (1,747 sites), 2,000+ buildings (NPS and concessions), 49 picnic areas, 1 marina
EMPLOYEES: During the summer: Approximately 800 National Park Service (about 380 year-round); Approximately 3,700 work for concessions