Travel | Russ Bishop Photography | Nature Photo Blog

May 24, 2021May 24, 2021

Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone

The Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone in Wyoming’s Yellowstone National Park is one of the great wonders of the world. Though not as famous, as large, or as old as Arizona’s grand fissure, what it lacks in size and scope, it makes up for in color and curiosity.

As with much of this hyperactive park, the canyon below the Lower Yellowstone Falls was once the site of a geyser basin. During the last ice age large ice dams formed near the mouth of Yellowstone Lake. Then, when they melted, a huge volume of water was released downstream causing massive flash floods and catastrophic erosion that carved through the soft rhyolite lava flows and created the present-day canyon.

It’s unique colors are also a result of hydrothermal alteration and exposure to the elements. Most of the yellow coloring is the result of iron present in the rock rather than sulfur as most people assume. The exposed rocks are oxidizing and essentially the canyon is slowly rusting.

The Yellowstone River begins on the slopes of Younts Peak, south of the park, and travels more than 600 miles to North Dakota where it empties into the Missouri River. It is the longest undammed river in the continental United States, and it’s evolution continues to shape this beautiful canyon.

March 26, 2021March 26, 2021

Worlds Away on Hawaii’s Big Island

Umauma Falls along the lush Hamakua Coast, Hawaii

The Big Island of Hawaii is well-known for its active volcano, black sand beaches, and magical Kona sunsets, and that’s more than enough reason to visit this island paradise. But what many may not realize is that the eastern side of the island is a lush tropical landscape of cascading waterfalls and jungle-lined valleys in a primordial setting.

Traveling north from Hilo on the old Mamalahoa Highway is a journey back in time. Passing countless sugar cane fields, the primary industry here during the last century, the landscape soon enters the dense jungle as the road winds along the rugged Hamakua Coast. With constant views of the Pacific on the right, the highway passes countless verdant chasms lined with an amazing variety of plants and trees that fill every available space with green. Needless to say, you soon find yourself looking for every available pull-out.

Akaka Falls State Park is one of the highlights of the coast. A short nature trail leads through giant bamboo forests and tropical cascades before arriving at its namesake waterfall. Further north, just before the highway turns west towards the town of Waimea, a spur road leads through the sleepy hamlet of Honoka’a to the spectacular Waipio Valley. The overlook at the end of the main road provides stunning views of this valley of the kings and the dramatic cliffs of the north coast, but traveling into the valley down the 25% grade (reported to be the steepest in the US) requires several hours and a guide or 4-wheel drive vehicle.

Boasting 4 out of the 5 major climate zones in the world, and 8 out of 13 of the sub-zones, the Big Isle really does have it all! Unlike the other Islands, which require less travel time, it takes a bit of planning to fully experience the largest of the Hawaiian Islands – but this is one part you don’t want to miss.

November 18, 2020April 12, 2022

Plitvice Lakes National Park

The mesmerizing waterfalls at Plitvice Lakes National Park are renowned for their unique colors, ranging from azure to green and blue. The waters are fed from underground Karst formations, and the colors change constantly throughout the day depending on the quantity of minerals and organisms in the water and the angle of sunlight.

Delicate travertine dams separate the 16 lakes that are visible on the surface, creating a unique ecosystem between each body of water. Formed as plants and bacteria in the water interact with the air, these barriers grow at a rate of 1 centimeter a year and continue to shape and form the myriad cascades the park is famous for.

Established in 1949, Plitvice Lakes is one of the oldest national parks in Europe and was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979. Croatia is a beautiful country with a rich and colorful past, and as one of the newest members of the European Union its friendly atmosphere and gorgeous scenery make this an ideal addition to any European adventure.