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Colorful Water

Close-up of Water with Cyanidium Algae

Many of Norris' features release acidic water.   Amazingly living organisms thrive even in the extreme environments of these acid hot springs!  The overflow channels of geysers and hot springs are often brightly colored with minerals and microscopic life forms.  Hardy, microscopic, lime-green Cyanidium algae thrives in these warm acid waters.  Orange cyanobacteria may be found in the runoff streams in Porcelain Basin.  From a distance these bacteria look like rusty, iron-rich mineral deposits.

These and other microscopic life forms are links to the emergence of life on earth billions of years ago.  They are also a focus of research in the fields of medicine and criminal investigation.  New tools for use in such complex areas as AIDS research and DNA "fingerprinting" have been developed from the microscopic thermal organisms found in Yellowstone's hot springs.

Norris Geyser Basin Tour
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