Colorful Bacterial Mats, Grand Prismatic Spring, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming

A variety of thermophiles, which are microorganisms that thrive in heat, are responsible for the colors in the Grand Prismatic Spring, located in the Midway Geyser Basin area of Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming. The yellow-green color comes from the thermophilic cyanobacteria Synechococcus, which is found in the hottest water of the spring (up to 161°F or 72°C). Phormidium, which is orange, is found in the spring's middle temperatures (113-140°F or 45-60°C). Calothrix, which is brown or black, is found in the coolest temperatures, although not lower than 86°F or 30°C. The terraces are the result of minerals that solidify in water that spills out of the spring.

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A variety of thermophiles, which are microorganisms that thrive in heat, are responsible for the colors in the Grand Prismatic Spring, located in the Midway Geyser Basin area of Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming. The yellow-green color comes from the thermophilic cyanobacteria Synechococcus, which is found in the hottest water of the spring (up to 161°F or 72°C). Phormidium, which is orange, is found in the spring's middle temperatures (113-140°F or 45-60°C). Calothrix, which is brown or black, is found in the coolest temperatures, although not lower than 86°F or 30°C. The terraces are the result of minerals that solidify in water that spills out of the spring.