Windows into the Earth: The Geologic Story of Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks

Millions of years ago, the North American continent was dragged over the world's largest continental hotspot, a huge column of hot and molten rock rising from the Earth's interior that traced a 50-mile wide, 500-mile-long path northeastward across Idaho. Generating cataclysmic volcanic eruptions and large earthquakes, the hotspot helped lift the Yellowstone Plateau to more than 7,000 feet and pushed the northern Rockies to new heights, creating the jewel of the U.S. national park system: Yellowstone. Meanwhile, forces stretching apart the western U.S. created the mountainous glory of Grand Teton National Park. Smith and Siegel offer expert guidance through this awe-inspiring terrain, bringing to life the grandeur of these geologic phenomena as they reveal the forces that have shapedand continue to shapethe greater Yellowstone-Teton region. Over seventy illustrations, including fifty-two in full color, illuminate the beauty of the landscape, while two final chapters provide driving tours of the parks to help visitors enjoy and understand the region's wonders.