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