Echinus Geyser

Echinus Geyser is a geyser in the Norris Geyser Basin of Yellowstone National Park in the United States.

Echinus' eruptions are unpredictable. Its fountain reaches a height of as much as 40 to 60 feet (12 to 18 m), with a duration of about 4 minutes. Prior to 1998, this geyser was very regular, every 35 to 75 minutes. There were also major eruptions that lasted as much as 118 minutes. It is speculated that there was a secondary underground water source that used to power the major eruptions and that the connection to the source was severed leading to Echinus' current state. [cite web | date = December 22, 2004 | url = http://www.nps.gov/yell/tours/norris/echinus.htm | title = Echinus Geyser | work = Norris Geyser Basin Tour | publisher = National Park Service | accessdate = May 16 | accessyear = 2006]

Echinus is the largest acid-water geyser known. Its waters have a pH of 3.3 to 3.6, nearly as acidic as vinegar. ["Ibid."] The water temperature is 185°F (85°C). [cite web | last = Ball | first = James W. | coauthors = Nordstrom, D. Kirk; Cunningham, Kirk M.; Schoonen, Martin A. A.; Xu, Yong and DeMonge, Jennifer M. | month = April | year = 2001 | url = http://wwwbrr.cr.usgs.gov/projects/GWC_chemtherm/pubs/ofr98574.pdf#page=27 | title = Water-Chemistry and On-Site Sulfur-Speciation Data for Selected Springs in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, 1994-1995 | format = PDF | publisher = USGS | accessdate = May 16 | accessyear = 2006]

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