Yellowstone Caldera
The Yellowstone Caldera, sometimes referred to as the Yellowstone Supervolcano, is a volcanic caldera and supervolcano in Yellowstone National Park in the Western United States. The caldera and most of the park are located in the northwest corner of Wyoming. The caldera measures 43 by 28 miles (70 by 45 kilometers), and postcaldera lavas spill out a significant distance beyond the caldera proper.
| Yellowstone Caldera | |
|---|---|
The northeastern part of Yellowstone Caldera, with the Yellowstone River flowing through Hayden Valley and the caldera rim in the distance | |
| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 9,203 ft (2,805 m) |
| Coordinates | 44°24′N 110°42′W |
| Geography | |
| Location | Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, United States |
| Parent range | Rocky Mountains |
| Topo map | USGS Yellowstone National Park |
| Geology | |
| Age of rock | 2,100,000–70,000 years |
| Mountain type | Caldera and supervolcano |
| Volcanic field | Yellowstone Plateau |
| Last eruption | Approximately 640,000 years ago (caldera-forming); 70,000 years ago (in the caldera) |
| Climbing | |
| Easiest route | Hike/auto/bus |
The caldera formed during the last of three supereruptions over the past 2.1 million years: the Huckleberry Ridge eruption 2.1 million years ago (which created the Island Park Caldera and the Huckleberry Ridge Tuff), the Mesa Falls eruption 1.3 million years ago (which created the Henry's Fork Caldera and the Mesa Falls Tuff), and the Lava Creek eruption approximately 640,000 years ago (which created the Yellowstone Caldera and the Lava Creek Tuff).
The caldera was the largest known until the discovery of Apolaki Caldera in 2019, which is more than twice as wide.