9 Amazing Facts on Mount Rainier: Check Its Elevation and Location

Mount Rainier, also known as the Tahoma, is the tallest volcanic peak in the contiguous United States, dominating the skyline of Washington State. It is a world-famous natural landmark that became the United States' fifth national park in 1899. This mountain is an active volcano, although its last recorded volcanic activity was between 1820 and 1854. Mt. Rainier was called "one who touches the sky” by its natives because of its elevation of 14,410 feet. A recent swarm of hundreds of small earthquakes, up to magnitude 1.7, occurred deep beneath Mount Rainier. Such quakes, often linked to circulating hot fluids, typically register up to five times monthly near the summit, though occasional swarms of five to ten shallow quakes happen over a few days. Read on to learn 9 amazing facts about Mount Rainier.

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9 Amazing Facts on Mt. Rainier

Here are 9 amazing facts about Mt. Rainier, highlighting its impressive features and significance:

1. Tallest Peak of Washington

Mt Rainier's elevation reaches 14,410 feet (4,392 metres) above sea level, making it the tallest peak in the state of Washington and the entire Cascade Range.

2. Most Glaciated Peak

According to the National Park Service, it boasts 28 named glaciers and numerous smaller ice patches, covering about 35 square miles (91 sq km), making it the most heavily glaciated peak in the contiguous United States.

3. A Deadly Active Volcano

Mount Rainier is among the world's most dangerous volcanoes, closely monitored due to its proximity to a major urban area and eruption potential. An eruption could be deadly nearby, with massive ash clouds affecting areas from Vancouver, British Columbia, through Washington, Oregon, and California. Its large glaciers could melt, causing huge, fast-moving mudflows (lahars) that threaten river valleys and approximately 80,000 residents.

4. Expansive National Park

Mt Rainier National Park was established on March 2, 1899, covering 3,472 square miles (2,221,766 acres). It was the fifth U.S. national park, setting a precedent for conservation.

5. A U.S. Postal Stamp Icon

Mount Rainier appears on four different U.S. postal stamp issues.  It was the 3-cent issue of a series of National Park stamps printed in 1934, as well as on a souvenir sheet for a philatelic convention.

6. Mount Rainier is a Biodiversity Hotspot

Beyond its majestic scale, the park is a rich ecosystem, documented with 964 plant species, 182 bird species, 65 mammal species, 15 reptile and amphibian species, and 12 fish species, all thriving under an average yearly snowfall of 54 feet in its subalpine meadows.

7. Ancient Human History at Rainier

Mount Rainier National Park has an extensive archaeological record that demonstrates over 9,000 years of human connection to the peak. Contemporary descendant tribes such as the Cowlitz, Muckleshoot, Nisqually, Puyallup, Squaxin, and Yakama continue to rely on the park's resources for material, spiritual, and cultural sustenance.

8. Archaeological Significance

More than 1,800 archaeological sites have been identified within the park, indicating millennia of human use by Native American tribes.

9. Puget Sound region’s water sources

Mount Rainier National Park preserves the headwaters of five major watersheds that begin on the mountain's glaciers and provide a vital source of water to the Puget Sound region.  Mount Rainier extends up into the atmosphere, disrupting large tides of eastward-moving Pacific coastal air, resulting in dramatic cloud formations, copious rain, and record-breaking snowfalls.

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Conclusion

Mt Rainier stands as an extraordinary natural wonder, its towering Mt Rainier elevation and extensive glaciers defining the landscape of Mt Rainier National Park. From its unique geological activity to its rich biodiversity and vast recreational opportunities, these nine amazing facts on Mount Rainier highlight why Mount Rainier is so famous. This iconic American landmark, central to the ecosystem of its Mt Rainier location in Washington, continues to inspire awe and serves as a vital testament to the nation's commitment to preserving its natural heritage.