Yellowstone National Park is the first national park in the world that is a stunning natural wonder popular among the masses for its scenic beauty, wildlife and many more factors but what really sets this place apart is its geothermal features like hot springs and geysers.
What might seem visually appealing can also house some dangers beneath its beauty, the park can be dangerous, especially in its geothermal areas. These spots are often boiling, acidic, and unstable, which can cause severe burns or even death for those who go off the designated trails.
Sadly, some visitors ignore the warning signs and enter restricted areas, not realising the risks they’re taking. The consequences of such actions can be disastrous, as seen in past tragedies. It’s essential for everyone visiting such places to respect the place’s rules, stay on the marked trails, and never step off the boardwalks.

Previously, an incident had occurred at Yellowstone National where a visitor named ParkColin Scott, a 23-year-old man from Oregon, fell into a boiling acidic hot spring while searching for a place to swim. The incident brought attention to the dangers of going on restricted paths in the park’s geothermal areas, where extreme temperatures and acidic waters can be lethal.
According to the National Park Service report, Scott and his sister, Sable, were hiking through a restricted section of the park on June 7, searching for a spot to “hot pot,” which is the illegal practice of swimming in hot springs. While trying to film the experience, Scott slipped and fell into the hot spring, leading to his tragic death.
Deputy chief ranger Lorant Veress explained that the two were intentionally walking off the Norris Geyser Basin’s boardwalk in search of such a spot. Sable Scott was filming a video of their adventure when her brother fell into the pool. The smartphone video captured the moment of his fall and Sable’s frantic efforts to help him. However, due to a lack of cellphone service in the area, Sable Scott had to return to a nearby museum to get help, as reported by the National Park Service,
When park officials arrived, portions of Scott’s head, upper torso, and hands were visible in the hot spring. Due to the extreme heat, which had reached a boiling 212°F (100°C), the rescuers determined that Scott had died from thermal burns. According to US Park Ranger Phil Strehle, the body was determined to be deceased after a report showed the lack of movement and visible burn marks on his body.

However, rescuers could not retrieve the body immediately due to the hazardous conditions, including the volatile thermal area and an approaching lightning storm. When officials returned the following morning, Scott’s body had disappeared, likely dissolved by the boiling, acidic water.
A wallet and a pair of flip-flops belonging to Scott were recovered, but his remains could not be recovered. Water temperatures at the Norris Geyser Basin can reach up to 199°F (93°C), and at the time of the incident, the temperature had reached 212°F. This is well above the boiling point of water, making the thermal areas extremely hazardous.
Warning signs are posted throughout the park to prevent visitors from venturing into dangerous areas. The park service also makes sure that no other such incidents are caused where the hot springs have caused more injuries and fatalities in Yellowstone than any other natural feature. Despite the tragic loss, no citations were issued in the case, and officials continue to urge visitors to follow safety guidelines.
More about the Yellowstone National Park
Yellowstone National Park is a national park of the United States located in the northwest corner of Wyoming and extending into Montana and Idaho. It was established by the 42nd U.S. Congress through the Yellowstone National Park Protection Act and signed into law by President Ulysses S. Grant on March 1, 1872. Yellowstone was the first national park in the U.S. and is also widely held to be the first national park in the world. The park is known for its wildlife and its many geothermal features, especially the Old Faithful geyser, one of its most popular. While it represents many types of biomes, the subalpine forest is the most abundant. It is part of the South Central Rockies forests ecoregion.
While Native Americans have lived in the Yellowstone region for at least 11,000 years, aside from visits by mountain men during the early-to-mid-19th century, organized exploration did not begin until the late 1860s. Management and control of the park originally fell under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Department of the Interior, the first secretary of the interior to supervise the park being Columbus Delano. However, the U.S. Army was eventually commissioned to oversee the management of Yellowstone for 30 years between 1886 and 1916. In 1917, the administration of the park was transferred to the National Park Service, which had been created the previous year. Hundreds of structures have been built and are protected for their architectural and historical significance, and researchers have examined more than a thousand indigenous archaeological sites. (source: wikipedia)