YNP Facts & Figures

Yellowstone National Park Facts & Figures

  • Established March 1, 1872.
  • Boundary changes:
    • May 26, 1926;
    • March 1, 1929;
    • April 19, 1930;
    • Oct. 20, 1932.
  • Designated a Biosphere Reserve 1976.
  • Designated a World Heritage Site, Sept. 6, 1978.

Basic Information

  • The world’s first national park.
  • 3,472 square miles/2,222,766.71 square acres in size (2,222,765.13 federal; 1.58 non-federal), larger than the states of Delaware and Rhode Island combined.
  • 63 miles north to south; 54 miles east to west.
  • 96% in Wyoming, 3% in Montana, 1% in Idaho.
  • Core of the Greater Yellowstone Area (the largest and most nearly intact temperate ecosystem in the contiguous United States, still inhabited by every wild species present when Columbus reached the New World 505 years ago) , encompassing 12 millions acres.  Includes Grand Teton National Park, John D. Rockefeller, Jr, Memorial Parkway, seven National Forests, three National Wildlife Refuges, and a variety of other properties.
  • Approximately 5% of park covered by water; 15% by grassland; and 80% by forests
  • Precipitation ranges from 10 inches (26 cm) at the north boundary to 80 inches (205 cm) in the southwest corner
  • Temperatures: Average at Mammoth: January: 9ºF July: 80ºF Records: High: 99ºF, 2002 (Mammoth) Low: –66ºF, 1933 (West Entrance, Riverside Station)

Geology

  • An active volcano
  • 1,000– 3,000 earthquakes annually
  • More than 10,000 hydrothermal features
  • More than 300 active geysers
  • One of the world’s largest calderas at 45 x 30 miles
  • Approximately 290 waterfalls, 15 ft. or higher, flowing year-round
  • Tallest waterfall in the front country: Lower Falls of the Yellowstone River at 308 ft.

Yellowstone Lake

  • 131.7 square miles of surface area
  • 141 miles of shoreline
  • 20 miles north to south 14 miles east to west
  • Average depth: 140 feet
  • Maximum depth: 410 feet

Wildlife

  • 67 species of mammals, including:
    • 7 species of native ungulates
    • 2 species of bears
  • 322 species of birds (148 nesting species)
  • 16 species of fish (5 non-native)
  • 6 species of reptiles
  • 4 species of amphibians
  • 1 threatened species: Canada lynx
  • 1 endangered species: gray wolf (delisted and relisted in 2008)

Flora

  • 7 species of conifers
  • Approximately 80% of forest is comprised of lodgepole pine
  • Approximately 1,150 species of native vascular plants
  • More than 210 species of exotic (non-native) plants
  • 186 species of lichens
  • At least 406 species of thermophiles (only 1% of hydrothermal areas inventoried)

Cultural Resources

  • Approximately 1,600 archeological sites
  • More than 300 ethnographic resources (animals, plants, sites)
  • 26 associated Native American tribes
  • More than 24 sites, landmarks, and districts on the National Register of Historic Places
  • 1 National Historic Trail
  • More than 900 historic buildings
  • More than 379,000 cultural objects and natural science specimens
  • Thousands of books (many rare), manuscripts, periodicals
  • 90,000 historic photographs

Facilities

  • 9 visitor centers, museums, and contact stations
  • 9 hotels/lodges (2,000+ hotel rooms/cabins)
  • 7 NPS-operated campgrounds (450+ sites)
  • 5 concession-operated campgrounds (1,700+ sites)
  • More than 1,900 buildings (NPS and concessions)
  • 52 picnic areas
  • 1 marina
  • 13 self-guiding trails

Roads and Trails

  • 5 park entrances
  • 466 miles of roads (310 miles paved)
  • More than 15 miles of boardwalk
  • Approximately 1,000 miles of backcountry trails
  • 92 trailheads
  • 301 backcountry campsites

Employees

  • Approximately 800 people work for the National Park Service at peak summer levels
    • 355 Permanent Employees
      • Full-time, year round: 210
      • Full-time, seasonal:  139
      • Part-time:  6
    • Term (seasonable, variable):  36
    • Seasonal:  429
  • Approximately 3,200  – 3,500 people work for concessionaires at peak summer levels

Budget

  • FY 2009:  $66.4 million
  • Federal:
    • O&M:  $34.5 million
    • Wildland Fire:  $1.9 million
    • Other Appropriations:  $9.1 million
  • Other Funding
    • Grants & Donations:  $1.4 million
    • Fees:  $11.4 million
    • Reimbursements:  $8.1 million
  • Funds Distribution
    • 16% – Administration
    • 35% – Facility Operations & Maintenance
    • 21% – Resource Preservation
    • 28% – Visitor Services

Source:  Various; primarily Yellowstone Resources and Issues, 2010.

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