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The famed hydrothermal vents and geysers found across Yellowstone National Park are impressive, but best admired at a distance. All that bubbly water isn\u2019t carbonation, after all. A hot spring regularly reaches boiling temperatures, and their eruptions can launch scalding plumes dozens of feet into the air.<\/p>\n
Despite these dangers, Yellowstone oversees approximately 15 miles of walkways around its famous natural attractions. But how are these routes planned, constructed, and maintained to keep the national park\u2019s millions of annual visitors both in awe and safe? To showcase the process, Yellowstone recently shared a brief video to social media that offers a rundown of its lengthy boardwalks.<\/p>\n
While the paths are all built by hand, mapping the routes requires a lot of preparation work. Park geologists rely on thermal cameras to identify particularly hot areas, which construction crews then avoid as they lay out new paths. However, it\u2019s not only Yellowstone\u2019s human visitors that need to be kept safe. Botanists also survey proposed paths to make sure any rare native plants remain undisturbed and free from damage during construction. Then there are hidden subjects to consider. Archaeologists examine routes for any ancient artifacts or historic remains buried underground, then adjust plans accordingly.<\/p>\n
The final results are reliable boardwalks that let you get close\u2014but not too close\u2014to Yellowstone\u2019s hydrothermal hotspots while also keeping the region\u2019s native ecosystem and history intact. For more tips, be sure to check out the park\u2019s safety website.<\/p>\n
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Andrew Paul is a staff writer for Popular Science.<\/p>\n