If you ever need evidence as to why you need to respect nature, look no further than US national parks – and none more so than Yellowstone, where a visitor was filmed appearing to dip their fingers into its most iconic hot spring (which is a really, really bad idea).
The park’s Grand Prismatic Spring is the largest in the US and takes its name from its dazzling rainbow rings. Its colorful appearance doesn’t mean you should underestimate its danger, however; the spring reaches temperatures of between 63 to 87°C (145 to 189°F). That’s more than enough to burn you.
You would’ve thought the steam might clue visitors into that, or the numerous signs telling you not to touch the water, but a video posted to TouronsofYellowstone – an Instagram account that’s pretty much a visual guide of what not to do at a national park – shows one apparently popping their fingers in anyway.
It’s not known if they were injured by their actions, but that doesn’t mean injuries don’t happen. In 2021, a woman who entered Maiden’s Grave Spring in an attempt to rescue her dog ended up sustaining significant burns. According to the US Geological Survey, 22 people have died due to scalding since Yellowstone became a national park in 1872.
Scalding temperatures aren’t the only thing to worry about either. While Grand Prismatic has more of a basic pH in comparison, plenty of hot springs around the park are extremely acidic. The grim evidence of that can be found in the case of a 23-year-old man who fell into such a pool back in 2016; he had also gone to dip his finger in the water, fell in, and died. By the next day, his body had completely dissolved.
With that in mind, it’s no wonder that people end up being charged for getting too close to the park’s hot springs – even international super spies (or, rather, the actors that play them).
Not touching the water at a hot spring also isn’t just about public safety – it’s a matter of preservation. Grand Prismatic’s rainbow rings, for example, are down to a delicate balance of heat-loving bacteria. If everyone started dipping their hands into its waters, not only would there be a lot of burns, but they’d also be introducing different bacteria that could disrupt the balance.
To keep both yourself and the park’s spectacular features safe, the National Park Service has the following advice for visiting hydrothermal areas:
- Stay on boardwalks and designated trails.
- Remember that hydrothermal water can severely burn you.
- Never run, push, or shove.
- Supervise children at all times.
- Don’t scratch hydrothermal mats.
