Yellowstone National Park

Yellowstone National Park, established by the U.S. Congress as a national park on March 1, 1872, is located primarily in the U.S. state of Wyoming, though it also extends into Montana and Idaho. The park was the first of its kind, and is known for its wildlife and its many geothermal features, especially Old Faithful Geyser, one of the most popular features in the park. It has many types of ecosystems, but the subalpine forest is dominant.

What do you know about the Yellowstone National Park? Try this Quick National Parks Quiz.

1) The human history of the park begins when aboriginal Americans first began to hunt and fish in the region. What is the estimate time?

• 5,000 years ago
• 11,000 years ago
• 4.4 million years ago

2) After an 1856 exploration, a mountain man (also believed to be the first or second European American to have seen the Great Salt Lake) reported observing boiling springs, spouting water, and a mountain of glass and yellow rock. Who was the mountain man?

• Jim Bridger
• Wade Boggs
• Mark Reynolds

3) Nathaniel Langford was appointed as the park's first superintendent in 1872.

• True or False?

4) In 1880, he was appointed as "gamekeeper" to control poaching and vandalism in the park. He had previously spent a number of years exploring the mountain country of present-day Wyoming, including the Grand Tetons, after joining Dr. Hayden�s Geological Survey in 1873. Today, he is considered the first national park ranger, and a peak, located at the head of the Yellowstone River, was named in his honor. Who is the first national park ranger?

• Henry Youngman
• Harry Yount
• Mark Grace

5) By 1915, 1,000 automobiles per year were entering the park, resulting in conflicts with horses and horse driven transportation. In subsequent years horse travel on roads was eventually prohibited.

• True or False?

6) The 1959 Yellowstone earthquake just west of Yellowstone at Hebgen Lake damaged roads and some structures in the park. Where was the center of the earthquake?

• Roosevelt Lake
• Morgan River
• Hebgen Lake

7)The lowest point in Yellowstone National Park at 5,282 feet. What is the highest point at 11,358 feet?

• Eagle Peak
• Ranger Peak
• Lincoln Peak

8) What is the most famous geyser in the park, and perhaps the world?

• Castle Geyser
• Beehive Geyser
• Old Faithful Geyser

9) Over 1,700 species of trees and other vascular plants are native to the park. Another 170 species are considered to be exotic species and are non-native. Of the eight conifer tree species documented, Lodgepole Pine forests cover 80% of the total forested areas.

• True or False?

10) Yellowstone is widely considered to be the finest megafauna wildlife habitat in the lower 48 states. There are many species of mammals in the park, including the endangered gray wolf, the threatened lynx, and grizzly bears. Other large mammals include the bison (buffalo), black bear, elk, moose, mule deer, mountain goat, pronghorn, bighorn sheep and mountain lion.  How many species of mammals are believed to life in the park?

• About 30
• About 60
• About 120

Yellowstone National Park Answers

1. 11,000
2. Jim Bridger
3. True
4. Harry Yount
5. True
6. Hebgen Lake
7. Eagle Peak
8. Old Faithful Geyser
9. True
10. About 60

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