All entrances to this 9,000 km² park, straddling the states of Wyoming, Montana and Idaho (northwest), are affected by this closure linked to “extremely dangerous conditions” caused by a river in floods and torrential rains.
Images released by the National Parks Agency show a section of road that collapsed, undermined by the flow of the Gardner River in Wyoming. CNN filmed a wooden building falling into a flooded stream. “Due to record flooding in the park and still expected rainfall, we have made the decision to close Yellowstone to entry for all visitors,” National Park Manager Cam Sholly said Monday.
Unknown reopening date
“Our number one priority has been to evacuate the northern part of the park where there are multiple cut roads and bridges, mudslides and other issues,” noting that the village of Gardiner is “currently isolated.” “We won’t know when the park will reopen until water levels have dropped and we can assess the damage throughout the park,” said Cam Sholly.
The northwestern quarter of the United States has seen well above normal rainfall in recent weeks. According to the weather services, these rains combined with a rapid melting of the ice under the effect of high temperatures to swell the course of the rivers.
Created in 1872 and covering an area of nearly 9,000 km² (larger than Corsica), Yellowstone is the oldest national park in the world. Protected by Unesco, it welcomes more than 4 million visitors each year.
