Before the Sun

Artwork ID# 2306-24504-10

After Thomas Moran

"...its beautiful colors were beyond the reach of human art."
- Thomas Moran

Many visitors believe that the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone is the most breathtaking sight inside Yellowstone National Park. Here stand a gathering of pine trees on the cliffside above the Yellowstone River. Also in this view , the tower form in the center is on the east side of the river while the pink color landslides and deep red cliff are on the west side. The river is hidden from view very far below these two cliff's. Everything in terms of distance and surface is deceptive.
This entire area was the former site of a geyser basin. Today, having been transformed into a canyon, the yellow, white, red, and pink colors mark the locations where steam vents and hot springs once stood. The thermal activity of their upwardly percolating water altered the chemistry of the canyon's iron compounds and created the tapestry of colors.

WyomingYellowstone National ParkGrand Canyon of the YellowstoneYellowstone Rivergeologyerosionteesvolcanic ashupliftfaultingLower Yellowstone Fallsrhyolitelava flowsgeysershydrothermalthermal activityhot springsflash floodsVshaped valleyriver erosioncolorshydrothermal alterationiron compoundsoxidizing rockslandformInspiration Pointscenic beautygypsum limeyellowredgreenwhitepinktalusvistaspine treesorangebrownSouth Rim TrailNorth Rim ViewRed Rock Pointdawn

From Wilderness Series Archive - "An ARCHIVE of every WILDERNESS SERIES image"