Artists' Paintpots - page 2
Page 1 2
A few feet east of the mud pots the mustard colored fumarole GAPNN047 shows an intensely orange runoff.
From the terrace at Paintpot Hill you have an excellent look at the features at the base of the slope. In the west the deep blue spring GAPNN014 catches the eye.
Farther to the east the intensely orange colored spring GAPNN016 literally glows. It outshines the pale yellow GAPNN017 next to it on the left side.
The runoff of GAPNN014 - 017 traverses a cloverleaf shaped cluster of springs, located next to a dead tree some yards to the northeast.
Obviously, the base of the slope in center of the loop trail is completely vegetationless. It seems to be a kind of hot spot, where also nearly no springs are to be found. The next cluster of springs to the east around GAPNN035 exhibits a stunning brick red color. Origin of the orange-red color is hematite, of the yellow shades limonite, both iron(III) oxides, precipitated from the hot springs water.
Even more gorgeous in its composition of different colors is the neighbored GAPNN037 cluster in front of Blood Geyser. One of the unofficial names in use for this feature is "The Kraken".
Blood Geyser can also be spotted from the terrace at Paintpot Hill, but the best observation point is from the bottom of the valley. Blood Geysers activity is nearly perpetual, it may jet water up to 1.8 m (6 feet) high.
In close vicinity to Blood Geyser is Flash Spring, a relatively cool spring, whose activity is mainly caused by large carbon dioxide bubbles.
Near the runoff channel of Blood Geyser and GAPNN037 the springs GAPNN030 and GAPNN031 can be observed.
Page 1 2