My 1000th Post - Giant Springs State Park

[dvetter]

I just want say that the DPS Community has been wonderful and such a great place to hang out and share shots. It has been a learning experience and I have met some really great people! I can not express enough gratitude to all those that have made such great comments on my shots over the time have been here, Thank you! Duane.

I share these shots of Giant Springs, one of my favorite places! The day I was down shooting these shots was very cold, my fingers froze within 5 mins of being there. I had very little light to work with as it was an overcast day.


Giant Springs is a large first magnitude spring. The spring outlet is located in Giant Springs State Park, just downstream and northeast of Great Falls, Montana on the east banks of the Missouri River. Discovered by Lewis and Clark during their exploration of the Louisiana Purchase in 1805. Giant Spring has an average discharge of 242 cubic feet (6.9 m3) of water per second or 156 million gallons per day (nearly 57 billion gallons per year). The spring has a temperature of 54o F. The water originates from snowmelt in the Little Belt Mountains, 60 miles (97 km) away, and according to radioisotope dating takes almost 2,900 years to travel underground before returning to the surface at the springs. The conduit between the mountains and the spring is the geologic strata found in parts of the Northwest called Madison Limestone. Giant Springs is formed by a opening in a part of the Madison aquifer, a vast aquifer underlying 5 U.S. States and 3 Canadian Provinces. Although some of the underground water from the Little Belt Mountains escapes to form Giant Springs some stays underground and continues on, joining sources from losing streams in the Black Hills, Big Horn Mountains and other areas. The aquifer eventually surfaces in Canada.

[stormfan]

All great shots. The story they are telling me is that there is so much beauty revealed in the cold.

Thanks for the history too. I love that kind of reading.

[elkidogz]

Nice! we have a lot of limestone aquifers also in Kentucky, Mammoth caves I've been told was created via water carving out the limestone. this makes the water turn a shade of blue that's really bright. you can only make it out where it's really deep though. have you seen this?

Gratz on the 1000'th post btw, I've not had nearly that much, but I've already learned lots as well.

[vimalkv]

Congrats Duane on your 1000 posts...You have been encouraging to others in this forum...And great shots to this achievement... Love the 2nd shot more..Nice Composition.TFS..

[Hayward Taylor]

Hello Duane and congratulations on your 1k posts achievement .. reaching this goal is quite an achievement - a compilation of your reply to your posts and the many comments your left on others including mine .. I enjoy your images a lot and am looking forward to seeing more inspiring images from you in the days to come .. Happy Holidays to you and your family

[bascott]

Congratulations on your 1000th post Duane!! Another beautiful set of pictures, love the snow and the steam coming off the water. Interesting story too!!

[beachcomber]

Low light, freezing conditions, and 242 cubic feet of water per second, what better way to celebrate a landmark.
An excellent set, you are very talented and I like this selection of winter pictures, particularly the second image.
I congratulate you on 1000 posts, both for your own work and for the encouragement and support you give others, well done Duane

[jack russell]

Happy 1K Duane! .. great photo's to celebrate it .. Thanks!

[Fred flyfisher]

Congratulations on your 1L milestone Duane. Lovely images to celebrate with. Lookd cold though...

[Preacherman]

A milestone celebrated with, and perfectly portrayed by a series of excellent shots that lend themselves well to a B&W image. The history is fascinating and reminds us of the awesome wonder of our planet. Congrats on the 1K Duane, and heres to many more my friend. God bless you. PAUL