1. Earthshots
  2. Yellowstone National Park, USA
  3. Frank Island
Description

Besides some recovery from the 1988 fires on the west side of Yellowstone Lake, this series of images shows the effects of another fire.

Frank Island is the largest island in Yellowstone Lake. The island was set up as a protected area for ospreys that nest on the island. The public is not allowed on the island during the summer. Only a small picnic area on the southeast point is open for visitor use.

On August 8, 2003, lightning struck Frank Island. An inferno quickly engulfed nearly all of the old growth trees. Most of the forest on the island burned.

The first image in this series is from one week before the lightning strike that started the fire. The island appears deep green in the middle of the lake. In the other images, virtually no vegetation remains on the island. The green was replaced by pink, which indicates barren ground.

View Related Imagery & Stories

Location

Aug. 1, 2003, Landsat 5 (path/row 38/29) — Frank Island in Yellowstone Lake at Yellowstone National Park, USA

Aug. 1, 2003, Landsat 5 (path/row 38/29) — Frank Island in Yellowstone Lake at Yellowstone National Park, USA

Oct. 4, 2003, Landsat 5 (path/row 38/29) — Frank Island in Yellowstone Lake at Yellowstone National Park, USA

Oct. 4, 2003, Landsat 5 (path/row 38/29) — Frank Island in Yellowstone Lake at Yellowstone National Park, USA

Sep. 24, 2011, Landsat 5 (path/row 38/29) — Frank Island in Yellowstone Lake at Yellowstone National Park, USA

Sep. 24, 2011, Landsat 5 (path/row 38/29) — Frank Island in Yellowstone Lake at Yellowstone National Park, USA

Aug. 20, 2016, Landsat 8 (path/row 38/29) — Frank Island in Yellowstone Lake at Yellowstone National Park, USA

Aug. 20, 2016, Landsat 8 (path/row 38/29) — Frank Island in Yellowstone Lake at Yellowstone National Park, USA

Aug. 10, 2018, Landsat 8 (path/row 38/29) — Frank Island in Yellowstone Lake at Yellowstone National Park, USA

Aug. 10, 2018, Landsat 8 (path/row 38/29) — Frank Island in Yellowstone Lake at Yellowstone National Park, USA

Aug. 15, 2020, Landsat 5 (path/row 38/29) — Frank Island in Yellowstone Lake at Yellowstone National Park, USA

Aug. 15, 2020, Landsat 5 (path/row 38/29) — Frank Island in Yellowstone Lake at Yellowstone National Park, USA

Aug. 1, 2003, Landsat 5 (path/row 38/29) — Frank Island in Yellowstone Lake at Yellowstone National Park, USA
Oct. 4, 2003, Landsat 5 (path/row 38/29) — Frank Island in Yellowstone Lake at Yellowstone National Park, USA
Sep. 24, 2011, Landsat 5 (path/row 38/29) — Frank Island in Yellowstone Lake at Yellowstone National Park, USA
Aug. 20, 2016, Landsat 8 (path/row 38/29) — Frank Island in Yellowstone Lake at Yellowstone National Park, USA
Aug. 10, 2018, Landsat 8 (path/row 38/29) — Frank Island in Yellowstone Lake at Yellowstone National Park, USA
Aug. 15, 2020, Landsat 5 (path/row 38/29) — Frank Island in Yellowstone Lake at Yellowstone National Park, USA

Yellowstone National Park, USA Additional Imagery & Stories

Fire and Recovery
Fire and Recovery

In these Landsat images, the old forest is dark green. In the 1987 image, this forest is occasionally broken up by lighter green grassy meadows or gra...

Infrared Views of Fire
Infrared Views of Fire

In natural color satellite images of wildfires, smoke often obscures the view of the ground. In the natural color image at the left, Yellowstone Lake ...

Old Faithful
Old Faithful

This series shows the area around the famous Old Faithful geyser. Geysers and hot pools are the bright or blue spots within the dark green forest. The...

Yellowstone Lake
Yellowstone Lake

As you look through this time series, see if you can identify new fires that occurred after the big 1988 fires. Even the latest image is a patchwork o...