Yellowstone Caldera

Yellowstone Caldera
The northeastern part of Yellowstone Caldera, with the Yellowstone River flowing through Hayden Valley and the caldera rim in the distance
Highest point
Elevation	9,203[1] ft (2,805 m)
Coordinates	44°24′N 110°42′W / 44.400°N 110.700°W / 44.400; -110.700 (Yellowstone Caldera)
Geography
Location	Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, United States
Parent range	Rocky Mountains
Topo map	USGS Yellowstone National Park
Geology
Age of rock	2,100,000–70,000 years[3]
Mountain type	Caldera[2] and supervolcano
Volcanic field	Yellowstone Plateau
Last eruption	Approximately 640,000 years ago (caldera-forming); 70,000 years ago (in the caldera)
Climbing
Easiest route	Hike/auto/bus

The Yellowstone Caldera, sometimes referred to as the Yellowstone Supervolcano, is a volcanic caldera and supervolcano in Yellowstone National Park in the Western United States. The caldera and most of the park are located in the northwest corner of the state of Wyoming. The caldera measures 43 by 28 miles (70 by 45 kilometers), and postcaldera lavas spill out a significant distance beyond the caldera proper.^[4]

The caldera formed during the last of three supereruptions over the past 2.1 million years: the Huckleberry Ridge eruption 2.1 million years ago (which created the Island Park Caldera and the Huckleberry Ridge Tuff), the Mesa Falls eruption 1.3 million years ago (which created the Henry's Fork Caldera and the Mesa Falls Tuff), and the Lava Creek eruption approximately 640,000 years ago (which created the Yellowstone Caldera and the Lava Creek Tuff).^[5]

The caldera was the largest known until the discovery of Apolaki Caldera in 2019, which is more than twice as wide.^[6]