Yellowstone Plateau Volcanic Field

Yellowstone Plateau Volcanic Field
Mount Sheridan, the highest peak in the Yellowstone Plateau Volcanic Field, from Heart Lake
Highest point
Elevation	10,313 ft (3,143 m)
Coordinates	44°28′16″N 110°30′07″W
Geography
Location	United States Park County, Wyoming Teton County, Wyoming Gallatin County, Montana Park County, Montana Fremont County, Idaho Yellowstone National Park
Parent range	Rocky Mountains
Topo map	USGS Yellowstone National Park
Geology
Age of rock	~2,080,000–70,000 years
Mountain type	Complex volcano, volcanic plateau and volcanic field
Last eruption	approximately 631,000 years ago (caldera-forming); 70,000 years ago (in the caldera)
Climbing
Easiest route	Hike/auto/bus

The Yellowstone Plateau Volcanic Field, also known as the Yellowstone Supervolcano or the Yellowstone Volcano, is a complex volcano, volcanic plateau and volcanic field located mostly in the western U.S. state of Wyoming but also stretches into Idaho and Montana. It is a popular site for tourists.

Map of Yellowstone Volcano ash beds

The plateau developed through three volcanic cycles spanning two million years that included some of the world's largest known eruptions. The eruption of the >2,500 km² (970 sq mi) Huckleberry Ridge Tuff about 2 million years ago created the more than 75 km (47 mi) long Island Park Caldera. The second cycle concluded with the eruption of the Mesa Falls Tuff around 1.3 million years ago, forming the 25 km (16 mi) wide Henry's Fork Caldera at the western end of the first caldera. Activity subsequently shifted to the present Yellowstone Plateau and culminated 630,000 years ago with the eruption of the >1,000 km² (390 sq mi) Lava Creek Tuff and the formation of the present 45 km × 75 km (28 mi × 47 mi) caldera. Resurgent doming then occurred at both the NE and SW sides of the caldera and voluminous 1,000 km² (390 sq mi) intracaldera rhyolitic lava flows were erupted between 150,000 and 70,000 years ago. Phreatic eruptions produced local tephras during the early Holocene. The caldera presently contains one of the world's largest hydrothermal systems including the world's largest concentration of geysers. Much of the plateau is located within Yellowstone National Park.