Abyss Pool is one of the park's alkaline calcium-carbonate/chloride springs, with a pH of 8 to 9. By comparison, stomach acid has a pH between 1 and 3, and bleach has a pH of 13.
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The most iconic features, like Old Faithful, have neutral to alkaline pH. Some Yellowstone features, however, can be acidic enough to break down the very rock that hosts them!
A hole in the ground fifty-three feet deep, Abyss Pool is one of the deepest pools in Yellowstone National Park. It may look like an inviting place for a swim, but at temperatures reaching 180 degrees Fahrenheit you'd best keep your toes out of this water.
— Yellowstone National Park said on Friday it's investigating a death related to part of a foot, in a shoe, found floating in a hot spring in the southern part of the park this week. Tuesday's discovery at Abyss Pool led to the temporary closure of the West Thumb Geyser Basin and its parking lot.
The hot springs within Yellowstone are far too hot to enjoy. Even a dip of a tow could result in serious burns. Please pay attention to signage and do not touch the scalding waters of Yellowstone. There are a few places where hot waters flow into cool rivers, making a warm area to swim and soak.
The parks' geyers and springs are acidic because they are fed by thermal water deep underground that picks up sulfuric acid as it rises to the surface. The sulfuric acid is produced by microorganisms that break down hydrogen sulfide in rocks and soil.