A 100-foot long fissure has prompted the closing of part of Grand Teton National Park.  The Park issued this statement:

“The Hidden Falls and Inspiration Point areas are currently closed due to elevated potential for rockfall. The area was closed to protect human safety on July 10 after expanding cracks in a rock buttress were detected.  It is unknown how long the closure will be in effect. Geologists are monitoring the buttress for movement and have initiated a risk assessment for the area.’

The Yellowstone-Grand Teton Area sits on top of a “supervolcano” that is actually 44 miles wide. 

There have been major eruptions of the Yellowstone Volcano in the distant past that were thousands of times greater than the eruption of Mt. St. Helens in Washington State in 1980.  There are dozens of seismographs set up around the Yellowstone/Grand Teton Area to detect even small earthquake activity.  The possibility of a major eruption is incredibly small – but scientists believe it’s worth the effort to constantly monitor the area.  Here’s more on the geology of the Teton Area. 

This is a recent pic. of the Beehive Geyser in Yellowstone N.P.  The park had its 2nd busiest June ever.