Death by Fire

The skeletal remains of a stand of lodgepole pines (Pinus contorta latifolia) burned by the Yellowstone fires of 1988. In all, the Yellowstone fires of 1988 burned over 1/3 of Yellowstone National Park, and at one point caused the park to close to all non-emergency personal for the first time in park history.

comments (4)

Ferdy Christant

Lion

Such a meaningful photo. I'm surprised though that 25 years after the fact, nature hasn't recovered this part. Any ideas why? Posted 11 years ago
1. travismorhardt
  
  Lion
  
  I believe that this area has been subject to more recent fires since the fires of '88. I witnessed other parts of the park that had burned in the fires of '88 and many of them had started to come back to life, but there were others like this, too. I can only guess that more recent fires are the reason for this... Posted 11 years ago
2. 1. Ferdy Christant
    
    Lion
    
    That makes sense. I've seen fire used intentionally and by accident in Madagascar and Tanzania, and most of nature recovers from it in a single season. Posted 11 years ago
  2. 1. travismorhardt
      
      Lion
      
      It doesn't take long for pioneer species to take hold in a drastic change of landscape such as fire. Posted 11 years ago

The Lodgepole pine

''Pinus contorta'', with the common names Lodgepole pine and Shore pine, and also known as twisted pine, and contorta pine, is a common tree in western North America. Like all pines , it is an evergreen conifer.

Info 4 0

Similar species: Pinales

Species identified by travismorhardt