Surprise Anemone Geyser erupts ever 7 to 15 minutes to heights of 10 feet. Afterwards the water drains back into the hole and disappears. Remember, when investigating unpredictable boiling hot thermal features, always send your assistant while you operate the camera!
These run off channels are brightly colored with the tiny bacteria (termophiles) that have adapted to live in the near boiling water. Different colors represent the different kinds of life that live at different temperatures. Research on some of these life forms has sparked revolutions in an array of scientific fields. In 1966, Dr. Thomas Brock discovered a bacterium, Thermus aquaticus, in a Yellowstone hot spring. Scientists extracted an enzyme from this bacterium, which has contributed to developing DNA "finger-printing," a powerful tool widely used in criminal and medical research.
Beehive Geyser is a favorite performer in this geyser basin but can be dormant for long periods. When active, it typically erupts twice daily and its display lasts 4-5 minutes. The narrow cone acts like a nozzle, projecting a powerful water column to a height of 130-180 feet.