The Midway Geyser Basin is located in Yellowstone National Park, and is part of the largest collection of geysers in the world. Midway features the Excelsior Geyser, which discharges more than 4,000 gallons of water per minute, as well as the Grand Prismatic Spring. With a diameter of 300 feet and a depth of 160 feet, the Grand Prismatic has the distinction of being the park’s largest hot spring. It is also renowned for the unique colors that appear around the body of water. At its center, the Grand Prismatic is roughly 188 degrees Fahrenheit, which is too hot to support life. However, the water at the edge of the pool is cool enough for bacteria and algae to exist. These different types of organisms survive by producing pigments such as yellow, orange, and red that act as a “natural” sunscreen for them while also giving the Grand Prismatic its unique color scheme.

Rudyard Kipling was one of the site’s most famous visitors, and he referred to the Midway Geyser Basin as “hell’s half acre.” This name is most likely a reference to the heat and steam generated by the geysers, as well as the unique yellow, orange, and red colors that appear on the landscape. Despite this colorful nickname, visitors continue to flock to the site in order to explore the unique ecosystem that makes up the Grand Prismatic Spring, and marvel at the area’s natural beauty.

Researched, written, and narrated by University of West Florida Public History Student Ashley Goethe.