Mount Rainier is an active volcano located in the southeast of Seattle, Washington. It last erupted in 1894. It is a part of the Cascade Range and also the highest mountain in Washington with a height of 13,211 feet. This range is a long stretch of volcanic mountains around 800 miles.
The mountain is believed to be 500,000 years old. This volcano had various names including Tacoma, Talol, Tahoma, Tacobeh, and Pooskaus all given by Native American tribes. It was named Mount Rainier by George Vancouver in honor of his friend Rear Admiral Peter Rainier.
Quick Facts: –
- Mount Rainier is considered to be ranked 21st in the list of the world’s most prominent mountains.
- This mountain has 26 major glaciers and also has 35 square miles of permanent snowfields and glaciers.
- It is also home to a hidden crater lake that is 15 feet deep and more than 130 feet long.
- According to geologists, the mountain was once 16,000 feet tall but due to various factors including mud flows, glaciations etc. its elevation decreased over time.
- Fay Fuller was the first female to reach the summit in 1890. It takes 2 to 3 days to climb the summit.
- Mount Rainier National Park was established on March 2, 1899 as the fifth national park in the United States.
- This national park covers an area of 956 square kilometers or 95,600 hectares.
- More than 2 million people visit the national park every year making it the 5th most popular.
- After reaching the summit, you may experience winds whipping at 60 mph and temperatures of 10°F.
