Natural Hazards: Geothermal

Since I just finished a great vacation in Yellowstone National Park, here is a brief section on natural hazards associated with geothermal areas.  You often see signs in Yellowstone that say “stay on the path”, and for good reason.  The ground surface may look solid, but areas are less than an inch think before you crunch into scalding hot water.  This water may be inches deep or tens of feet deep.  If you are lucky, you get severe burns on a limb.  Less lucky…being burnt to death is a pretty painful way to kill off a character.  Areas like Yellowstone with geysers and hot springs are rare around the world (about half the known geysers are in Yellowstone), and they are great for games because of that uniqueness.