Incredible photo shows the sheer size of one of the world's largest hot springs - and tiny tourists nearby

By JAKE HOLDEN, UK NEWS REPORTER Published: 01:31, 26 May 2026 | Updated: 01:32, 26 May 2026 Tourists have flocked to the beautifully alien-like spectacles at Yellowstone National Park for centuries now. It was designated as the first national park in the United States in 1872 and is home to some of the most distinctive geology in the world - including a supervolcano which could cause a mass extinction event on eruption. But with all that potential danger, Yellowstone is still a bucket list place to visit for its outstanding natural beauty. Incredible aerial shots of visitors walking around Grand Prismatic Spring in the Midway Geyser Basin have emerged, displaying some of the most striking and bright colours in the natural world. A giant steaming pool of impossibly blue water in the Spring - which is the largest hot spring in the US - is surrounded by a pungent, mineral-rich orange silt. These outlandish orange colours that surround the 300-foot-wide and 120-foot-deep pool are created by 'thermophiles' - a heat-loving microscopic organism which flourishes in many of Yellowstone's hot springs. The 2.2 million-acre park thrives today as one of Earth's last remaining nearly intact large temperate ecosystems, thanks to President Ulysses S. Grant signing a congressional act protecting the land for the benefit and enjoyment of the people on March 1, 1872. There are more than 100,000 hydrothermal features and around 500 geysers - about half of the world's total. Yellowstone is home to half of the world's geysers - more than 500 of them - and more than 100,000 hydrothermal features The orange colour around the deep beautiful blue in the centre is made by 'thermophiles' - a heat-loving microscopic organism which flourishes in many of Yellowstone's hot springs Bison have made their home in Yellowstone continuously since prehistoric times - the only place in the lower 48 states where this is true. Native American communities lived in the area of the park for more than 10,000 years and 27 tribes are recognised by the National Park as carrying modern-day and historic ties to Yellowstone. National Park Week will celebrate America's 250th anniversary with a weeklong celebration in August featuring hundreds of commemorative events at many of America's 433 national parks under the theme 'Celebrate America's Story'. No comments have so far been submitted. Why not be the first to send us your thoughts, or debate this issue live on our message boards. By posting your comment you agree to our house rules. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual We will automatically post your comment and a link to the news story to your Facebook timeline at the same time it is posted on MailOnline. To do this we will link your MailOnline account with your Facebook account. We’ll ask you to confirm this for your first post to Facebook. You can choose on each post whether you would like it to be posted to Facebook. Your details from Facebook will be used to provide you with tailored content, marketing and ads in line with our Privacy Policy.