A 60-year-old woman visiting Yellowstone National Park with her husband and their dog was injured by scalding water while walking off-trail near the Mallard Lake Trailhead at Old Faithful on Monday. The woman, hailing from Windsor, N.H., sustained second- and third-degree burns to her lower leg after breaking through a thin crust over the thermal area, the National Park Service reported.

Yellowstone National Park, known for its geothermal features due to sitting above an active volcano, is investigating the incident. This is the first recorded thermal injury within the park this year. The woman was airlifted to the Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center for treatment, while her husband and their dog emerged unharmed from the incident.

According to the U.S. Geological Survey, Yellowstone has seen more fatalities and injuries from hot springs compared to wildlife encounters. Since 1872, at least 22 individuals have lost their lives and hundreds have been injured at the park, surpassing the combined number of deaths from bears and bison. Despite the park's warning and guidelines to stay on designated boardwalks and trails, some visitors choose to venture off the beaten path and ignore the potential dangers lurking beneath the fragile and thin ground surface in hydrothermal areas.

Yellowstone National Park is home to the world's largest concentration of geysers, hot springs, mud pots, and steam vents, making it a popular destination for tourists. However, the park advises extreme caution when exploring these geothermal areas to ensure visitor safety and preserve the pristine natural environment.