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Why is Yellowstone National Park considered a supervolcano?
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Yellowstone National Park
Old Faithful geyser erupting, Upper Geyser Basin, Yellowstone National Park, northwestern Wyoming, U.S.
Yellowstone National Park is considered a supervolcano due to its history of massive volcanic eruptions and the presence of a large caldera. This caldera, measuring approximately 30 by 45 miles, was formed by a cataclysmic eruption about 640,000 years ago. Yellowstone has experienced three such major eruptions, with the earliest occurring approximately 2.1 million years ago. These eruptions are capable of magnitude 8 events, releasing vast amounts of volcanic material. The park sits above a geological hotspot, a region where magma is close to the Earth's surface, contributing to its intense volcanic and seismic activity.12