We spent time checking out the travertine terraces at Mammoth Hot Springs, in the northwestern corner of Yellowstone National Park. Several thousand pounds of calcium carbonate, carried in solution from the hot springs that bubble up through thick limestone, are deposited onto the enormous terraces each day. As the terrace complex spreads and grows, surrounding vegetation is overtaken. In this photo several dead trees are seen embedded in calcium carbonate, with steaming water flowing around them, a ghostly scene. This was photographed with our tiny Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX2. While probably considered a simple point-and-shoot camera by most people, it produces surprisingly high quality images (when used properly, including low ISO). Among other features, the camera allows full manual exposure (f-stop, shutter speed, ISO), auto-bracketing and RAW file format, all of which are uncommon in the point-and-shoot market. A number of the photos we shot with this fun camera while in Yellowstone are sufficiently sharp and clean to be posted for hopeful stock sales.
Dead trees embedded in calcium carbonate deposits in the travertine terraces of Mammoth Hot Springs, near Minerva terrace . Over two tons of calcium carbonate (in solution) is deposited each day on the terraces, gradually killing any vegetation that had managed to be growing.
Image ID: 19796
Location: Mammoth Hot Springs, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, USA
