Grand Prismatic Spring: Yellowstone’s Living Rainbow It’s one of the most photographed places in Yellowstone — and for good reason. Grand Prismatic Spring looks like something from another planet. It’s the largest hot spring in the United States, wider than a football field and deeper than a 10-story building. Those unreal colors aren’t just for show. The deep blue center is near boiling, too hot for life, while the edges shimmer in greens, yellows, and oranges thanks to heat-loving microorganis

Grand Prismatic Spring might look like a perfect watercolor painting, but every shade tells a story. It’s the third largest hot spring in the world, big enough to fit the entire Statue of Liberty inside with room to spare. The intense blue center reaches about 160°F (70°C) — too hot for life — while the cooler edges host colorful microbial mats that actually create oxygen, helping shape the park’s delicate ecosystem. The colors even shift slightly with the seasons — more orange in summer, more g

Fun Facts about Grand Prismatic Spring