Thermal Spires
Colossal heat vents that pierce the freezing depths of Planet 4546B.
The geothermal areas of Yellowstone include several geyser basins in Yellowstone National Park as well as other geothermal features such as hot springs, mud pots, and fumaroles. The number of thermal features in Yellowstone is estimated at 10,000. A study completed in 2011 found that a total of 1,283 geysers have erupted in Yellowstone, 465 of which are active during an average year. These are distributed among nine geyser basins, with a few geysers found in smaller thermal areas throughout the Park. The number of geysers in each geyser basin are as follows: Upper Geyser Basin (410), Midway Geyser Basin (59), Lower Geyser Basin (283), Norris Geyser Basin (193), West Thumb Geyser Basin (84), Gibbon Geyser Basin (24), Lone Star Geyser Basin (21), Shoshone Geyser Basin (107), Heart Lake Geyser Basin (69), other areas (33). Although famous large geysers like Old Faithful are part of the total, most of Yellowstone's geysers are small, erupting to only a foot or two. The hydrothermal system that supplies the geysers with hot water sits within an ancient active caldera. Many of the thermal features in Yellowstone build up sinter, geyserite, or travertine deposits around and within them.
- type
- Geological Formation / Heat Vent
- location
- Thermal Spires Region (Deep Grand Reef vicinity)
- environmental_effect
- Creates localized warm water pockets in cold biomes
- biome_association
- Blood Kelp Trench, Jellyshroom Cave entrance
- fauna_presence
- Home to Ghost Sharks and various thermal-adapted species
Lore & Background
Beyond their biological importance, the Spires hold a darker significance for those who explore them in depth. The intense heat and turbulent currents make navigation difficult, often masking the presence of dangerous predators like Ghost Sharks that patrol the thermal plumes. Furthermore, the region surrounding these spires is where the alien Precursor architecture begins to appear more frequently, hinting at a connection between the planet's geothermal activity and the ancient civilization's technology. The heat may have been utilized by the Precursors for energy, or perhaps the Spires are a side effect of their deep-core experiments.
In Their Own Story
The cold bit through the reinforced hull of the Seamoth, a warning that the thermal plume was fading. I throttled up, fighting the current as the massive spire loomed ahead, a jagged tooth of obsidian and steam piercing the gloom. Bubbles hissed around the viewport as superheated water churned, turning the dark blue into a swirling mist of orange and grey. A Ghost Shark glided silently through the thermal fog, its bioluminescent stripes pulsing in rhythm with the vent's roar. It wasn't just heat; it was life, raw and violent, rising from the planet's wounded core to keep the darkness at bay.
Reader's Guide
The Thermal Spires serve as a critical waypoint for players attempting to traverse the deep ocean without freezing to death. By staying within the thermal plumes emitted by these structures, divers can maintain their temperature even when venturing into biomes that are otherwise lethally cold. Navigators should note that while the water is warm, visibility is often reduced due to steam and particulate matter. The currents around the base of the spires can be unpredictable, so it is advisable to use thrusters carefully rather than relying solely on momentum. These locations also act as natural gates to deeper regions like the Blood Kelp Trench. Players looking for rare resources or Precursor artifacts should investigate the caves often found at the base of these formations, keeping a close watch for the aggressive predators that hunt in the warmth.
Did You Know?
- The number of thermal features in Yellowstone is estimated at 10,000.
- A study completed in 2011 found that a total of 1,283 geysers have erupted in Yellowstone, 465 of which are active during an average year.
- The tallest active geyser in the world, Steamboat Geyser, is located in Norris Basin.
- Water erupting from Yellowstone's geysers is superheated to an average of 204 °F (95.5 °C) as it leaves the vent.
- The Norris Geyser Basin is the hottest geyser basin in the park and is located near the northwest edge of Yellowstone Caldera.
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