How often do hydrothermal explosions occur in Yellowstone National Park? It all depends on the size of the event.

Yellowstone National Park’s popular Biscuit Basin will be closed for the rest of the summer following a dramatic hydrothermal explosion last week. The explosion happened on July 23 just before 10 a.m., sending steam and debris “hundreds of feet” in the air and destroying a nearby boardwalk, the National Park Service said in a news release.

The hydrothermal explosion took place near Biscuit Basin's Sapphire Pool on Tuesday morning, erupting boiling water and steam into the air, officials said.

The Biscuit Basin area of Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming is closed after a hydrothermal explosion Tuesday morning, park officials said in a news release and post on X.

Yellowstone National Park's 'Biscuit Basin' area is closed due to a recent hydrothermal explosion that occurred on Tuesday morning.

While the explosion was considered small, it unleashed "a massive amount of rocks and dirt" that shattered a fence and killed nearby trees.

Hydrothermal explosions are described as “ violent and dramatic events ” by the U.S. Geological Survey. These explosions can reach incredible mile-high heights and spew boiling water, steam, mud, and rock fragments more than two miles out from the epicenter.

Scientists aren’t sure whether it’s possible to detect hydrothermal explosions like last Tuesday’s Biscuit Basin blow-up before they happen. Still, they want to try and learn what they