Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
It's not known whether Daisy's name came from a popular old expression: “Hey, it's a
daisy!” (slang for first-rate) or from the nickname of an early assistant superintendent.
Daisy Geyser erupts dependably and at a graceful angle.
Splendid Geyser
may have the most on-again-off-again history of eruption activity of any
of Yellowstone's geysers, starting with its first mention in 1834 by explorer Warren A. Ferris. It
has been known to erupt over 200 feet (61 m) high in its active periods, and eruptions some-
times seem to be caused by falling barometric pressure.
Splendid and its neighbor Daisy sometimes erupt simultaneously. This unpredictable oc-
currence is breathtaking—they may both jet to more than 100 feet (30 m).
The relatively recent (mid 1990s) simultaneous eruptions of Daisy and Splendid provide a
fine example of the reason we should never pronounce a geyser dead. An article about Yel-
lowstone Park in a 1940
National Geographic Magazine
stated: “Daisy sprang into existence
in 1892 with the demise of Splendid Geyser, fifty feet away.” But Splendid wasn't dead, just
dormant for about half a century!
There may be a deep east-west fissure connecting Splendid Geyser and Giant Geyser,
which is about 1,200 feet (360 m) to the east. In 1951 and the mid 1990s, these two magni-
