Grand Prismatic Spring

The largest hot spring in the United States, painted by microbes/Natural Wonders

Grand Prismatic Spring in Yellowstone National Park is the largest hot spring in the United States and the third largest in the world, measuring approximately 112 meters across. Its vivid rainbow colors are produced by heat-loving microorganisms called thermophiles living in the mineral-rich water. The deep blue center reaches temperatures around 87 degrees Celsius, too hot for most life, while progressively cooler rings support different microbial communities that produce orange, yellow, and green pigments. It discharges roughly 2,120 liters per minute.