A-Z Blogging Challenge: Y Stands For: Yellowstone

Yellowstone was the world's first national park. It was established in 1872, signed into law by Ulysses S. Grant on March 1st. It is a World Heritage Site and designated Biosphere Reserve, with 2.2 million acres, and covers parts of Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho.

(Yellowstone River, Upper Falls. SOURCE)

The name "Yellowstone" came from the Minnetaree (a Native American Indian tribe) word for a river with yellow sandstone bluffs: "Mi tsi a-da-zi". French trappers interpreted this as "Yellow Rock River", and called it "Pierre Jaune" or "Roche Jaune". Lewis and Clark came into contact with the same tribe, and also called it Yellow Rock River.

(Canada Lynx. SOURCE)

Yellowstone National Park is home to several threatened endangered species, including the Canada Lynx, the gray wolf, and the grizzly bear. Some other notable animals are the American bison, bighorn sheep, bobcats, coyotes, elk, moose, mountain lions, mule deer, to name the large ones. 67 mammal species live in the park (the largest concentration in the 48 states), 322 species of birds are recorded (148 of them nesting in the park), 16 species of fish (although 5 of them are non-native), 6 reptile species, and 4 species of amphibians. There are also 7 conifer species, 1,100 native species of plants, 199 non-native species of plants, 186 species of lichens, and 406 species of thermophiles.

(SOURCE)

The Yellowstone Caldera is the largest supervolcano in North America. It is indeed considered an active volcano, producing half the world's volcanic activity. The caldera has been measured at 55 km (34 miles) by 72 km (45 miles) in size, although a new survey has shown it could extend for up to 640 km (400 mi) east to west.

(SOURCE)

Three supereruptions have happened in Yellowstone's history--at 2.1 million, 1.3, and 640,000 years ago. The last time Yellowstone exploded, it sent 1,000 cubic km (240 cubic mi) of dust into the air, and if it was to erupt again (supervolcano eruptions are predicted to happen sometime in the future; in fact, we're overdue) it could bury North America in ash and disrupt life around the globe.

(SOURCE)

They say it won't be happening anytime soon. But, obvious in the recent catastrophes, the prediction of earthquakes, volcanoes, and other natural disasters is shaky at best.

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Source:
http://www.nps.gov/yell/index.htm
http://www.yellowstone-natl-park.com/history.html
http://www.nps.gov/yell/planyourvisit/factsheet.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yellowstone
http://www.yellowstone-online.com/history/yhtwo2.html
http://www.visityellowstonepark.com/Park-Facts.aspx
http://www.nps.gov/yell/naturescience/mammals.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Animals_of_Yellowstone
http://www.nps.gov/yell/parkmgmt/bisoneiscon5.htm
http://www.livescience.com/200-super-volcano-challenge-civilization-geologists-warn.html
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/04/13/yellowstone-supervolcano-2011_n_848681.html

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Do you think supervolcano eruptions are something we should be worried about? Do you think Yellowstone will erupt in the near future, or do you think this is just a bunch of pointless speculation?


Also, have you ever been to Yellowstone?


-----The Golden Eagle

A-Z Blogging Challenge: H Stands For: Herculaneum

I know I've posted about this before, but since I really do think this city deserves more attention . . . have you ever heard of Herculaneum?

(SOURCE)

You know, the city that got destroyed by Vesuvius in 79 AD?

Yes, Pompeii was bigger. Yes, they found buildings and macabre human-shaped cavities. Yes, there is some interesting stuff at the city.

But I still think Herculaneum is cooler.

(SOURCE)

Recently, archaeologists have found the old basilica, a painted statue head, mosaics, a loaf of bread, even wooden structures such as furniture and buildings, thanks to the heat and intensity the pyroclastic flow. And that's after people back in the 1700s or so looted the place, digging tunnels throughout the ruins (Herculaneum was buried under 65+ feet of ash) and hacking apart many of the paintings to sell.

The only problem with excavating it is that there's a city above the ruins.

(SOURCE)

Of course, having a city there is rather dangerous. If Vesuvius erupts again like the way it did in 79 AD--and that's not impossible in the least--it could mean a disaster many, many times greater than the one thousands of years ago. 6 million people live where Herculaneum, Pompeii, Stabiae, and Oplontis (those are the other towns destroyed) used to be. Evacuation plans for the Bay of Naples only account for 600,000.

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If you'd like to learn more, go HERE to the PBS Secrets of the Dead and watch the video.

Sources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herculaneum

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The danger of a volcanic eruption aside, it's a cool site, don't you think?


-----The Golden Eagle

Some World Events

As I'm sure you've heard/seen/read by now, there was a massive earthquake in Japan. The 8.9 magnitude quake on the Richter scale hit at 2:46 PM local time, and there are tsunami warnings in countries all around the world around the Pacific Basin, including along the USA California coast and and the state of Hawaii.

Gosh. I can't imagine what it's like to go through a quake that big. The videos and images are terrifying--all the fire and flooding and cities being destroyed.

If you're in Japan, stay safe. If you know anyone in Japan, then I hope they're okay.

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Have a safe, secure, peaceful weekend, everyone!


-----The Golden Eagle