Upper Falls, Yellowstone River, Yellowstone National Park, U.S.A.

UPPER LAKE, YELLOWSTONE PARK. The Upper Falls of the Yellowstone are interesting not only because of their rocky setting, which is unusually fine, but because the waters are so suddenly massed at the summit and so precipitately plunged into a deep, seething pool 112 feet below. At their feet the narrow gorge--now a canyon--turns sharply at right angles and rushes the water away toward the Lower Falls, where a more daring plunge is to be made. The river has an easy and peaceful journey from Yellowstone Lake to a point less than half a mile above the Upper Falls; but from that point for a distance of at least twenty miles it must undergo much buffeting and tumbling. There is no monotony in the Yellowstone Park; change, variety, rapidly-shifting scenes, suddenness and surprises characterize everything. Even the weather shares in the spirit that pervades this mountain region. One dismounts at the Canyon Hotel about noon, perhaps on the Fourth of July, and speaks enthusiastically of the beautiful sky, the invigorating air, and the perfection of the climate generally; but while he is eating lunch a storm cloud passes by and leaves the ground white with snow. He shudders at the thought that the walking is spoiled for the day--but in an hour the snow is melted, the paths and roadways are dry and the temperature is again ideal.