Graceful Geyser 1981...

This geyser appeared in 1981 in a distant part of the Porcelain Basin section of the Norris Geyser Basin in Yellowstone.There is some debate as to whether an old vent became unclogged or whether this was a new breakout . At first it erupted vertically from a funnel-shaped vent, but as time went on it eroded its vent and the eruptions became angled slightly, and eventually the original funnel-hole was gone and a larger crater was created. By that time the nozzling action of the geyser's small original vent was no longer operative, and the graceful jet you see here was replaced by lower splashy eruptions.At its best Graceful was about 50 feet tall and absolutely gorgeous. Eruptions were frequent , too.

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