Page 135 - Volcano and Geothermal Tourism

112 The Americas

Figure CS5.1 Location of Yellowstone National Park

Source: Wikimedia Commons, 2009a

other materials associated with the geothermal injury by wildlife occurs when visitors seek too
activity from tourists – boardwalks are necessary. close an encounter. Rangers spend significant
Nevertheless, each year some of the visitors who time educating visitors about how to avoid
wander off a boardwalk or trail in thermal areas harassing and being injured by animals.
receive serious burns, occasionally resulting in While park managers hope that Yellowstone
death. Wading in thermal pools is illegal, but that provides a respite from urban crowds, the vast
does not stop some visitors from ignoring any majority of visitors arrive in the same six-week
warnings. Trees that fall as a result of natural causes period between early July and mid-August each
or human disturbance also pose a risk to human year – and most want to see the same highlights
safety and property, as do some of the animals during their two-day visit. Combined with natural
inhabiting the national park. Park regulations distractions and deteriorating road conditions, this
prohibit approaching within 100 yards of bears or heavy traffic makes for hazardous travelling for the
25 yards of other wildlife. However, elk and bison unwary driver. While most park visitors leave
are often closer than that to roads and sidewalks in Yellowstone after a safe visit, some may fall victim
developed areas and such easy proximity tends to to offences against property, and rangers are
create an illusion of safety. The major cause of occasionally called upon to search for missing

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