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This article is about a volcano near Seattle, Washington, USA. For other meanings, see Rainier.
Mount Rainier is a stratovolcano (and national park) located 54 miles (87 km) southeast of Seattle, Washington in Pierce County. One of the monarchs of the Cascade Range, it was originally known as Tahoma. Due to its prominence in the southern
-horizon, Seattle-area residents refer to it as The Mountain.
While it is possible to climb to the summit, it is not an easy
hike; in most years, unpredictable snow and storms trap and kill hikers. Mount Rainier
is a good place for winter sports, including snowshoeing and skiing. Above 6000 feet (1800m) elevation, Rainier is mostly covered by glaciers, but heat from the volcano keeps areas of the crater rim on
its summit cone ice-free.
Mount Rainier's earliest lavas are about 500,000 years old (Sisson and others, 2001).
The most recent recorded eruption was between 1820 and 1854, but many eyewitnesses reported eruptive activity in the late
1800s (Harris, 1988). As of 2002, there is no imminent risk of eruption, but geologists
expect that the volcano will erupt again. Lahars (large volcanic debris flows) from
Rainier pose the most risk to life and property. However, Rainier is also capable of producing pyroclastic flows as well as hot lava.
The White, Carbon, Puyallup, Nisqually, and Cowlitz Rivers arise on the slopes of Mount Rainier. The first three combine as
the Puyallup and empty into Commencement Bay at Tacoma; the Nisqually emtpies into Puget Sound east of Lacey; and the Cowlitz
empties into the Columbia River between Kelso and Longview.
History
Mount Rainier was first discovered by the Native Americans. At
the time Europeans reached the area, it was inhabited by the Nisqually, Cowlitz, Yakama, Puyallup, and Muckleshoot tribes. Residents of the mountain's river valleys, they hunted and gathered berries in the forests
and mountain meadows.
Captain George Vancouver sailed into Puget Sound in 1792, and became the first European to see the mountain. He named it in honor of his friend, Rear Admiral Peter
Rainier.
In 1833, Dr. William Tolmie explored the area looking for medicinal plants. He was followed by other explorers
seeking challenge. Hazard
Stevens and P.B. Van
Trump received a hero's welcome in the streets of Olympia after their successful summit climb in 1870. John Muir climbed Mount Rainier in 1888, and
although he enjoyed the view, he conceded that it was best appreciated from below. Muir was one of many who advocated protecting
the mountain. In 1893, the area was set aside as part of the Pacific Forest
Reserve in order to protect its physical/economic resources: timber and watersheds.
Citing the need to also protect scenery and provide for public enjoyment, railroads and local businesses urged the creation of
a national park in hopes of increased tourism. On March 2, 1899, President William McKinley established
Mount Rainier National Park as America's
fifth national park. Congress dedicated the new park "for the benefit and enjoyment of the people; and...for the preservation
from injury or spoliation of all timber, mineral deposits, natural curiosities, or
wonders within said park, and their retention in their natural condition."
See also
External links
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