Grand Prismatic Spring features in this Unreal Places episode · real footage, no AI imagery
USA · Yellowstone, Wyoming
Grand Prismatic Spring
A rainbow-ringed hot spring the size of a stadium.
Why it looks like this
- The largest hot spring in the United States.
- The deep blue centre is too hot for almost anything to live in; the yellow, orange and red rings are mats of heat-loving microbes, each colour a different temperature zone.
How to actually go
- For the classic view from above, take the Fairy Falls trail to the overlook.
- Stay on the boardwalks; the ground around the springs is thin and dangerous.
- Clear, sunny days show the colours best; cold mornings can be all steam.
Best time: Late May to September.
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