Echinus

Millions of spine-shaped deposits surround Echinus Geyser. Iron, arsenic, manganese, and aluminum are found in its acidic fountain of water that showers the landscape, and with each eruption these metals help build miniature rust-colored sinter spines. From 1878 to 1948, Echinus Geyser rarely erupted, and since then it has fluctuated between periods of activity and dormancy. For many decades, it has surprised observers with changes in eruption heights, lengths, and intervals. It erupted quite regularly for several years during the 1990s, but eruptions can occur hours, days, or even months apart. Echinus was named in 1878 when mineralogist Dr. Albert Peale studied the geyser’s deposits, which reminded him of the spines on echinoderms, including starfish and sea urchins.

Wyoming · United States