Looming over lattes in the Pacific Northwest

Mount Rainier
near Seattle, Washington

To about 1.5 million people in Seattle and Tacoma, Washington, Mount Rainier is a massive, beloved mascot, often coyly elusive behind thick clouds and fog -- in the sun, a resplendent reminder of the uniquely Pacific Northwestern urban affinity for outdoor adventure.

At 14,410 feet, the dormant Rainier is the highest peak in the Cascade Range and the third most voluminous volcano in the chain, after Mount Shasta and Mount Adams, according to the U.S. Geological Survey (U.S.G.S.). The last eruption was about 150 years ago.

But this mountain is not as benign as it seems. The U.S.G.S. considers it the most dangerous volcano in the Cascades because of the large surrounding population and the huge mass of ice and snow on Rainier's slopes. Experts believe an eruption or serious seismic activity could cause massive, sudden mud and debris flows that could wipe out towns at the mountain's base.

Because of its potential for widespread devastation, Rainier has been designated one of 15 "Decade Volcanoes" worldwide.

Intro
Mauna Loa and Kilauea
Pacaya
Mount Ruapehu
Mount Sakurajima

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Related sites:

• Climbing Mount Rainier
• Mount Rainier Geological History
• U.S. Geological Survey: History and Hazards of Mount Rainier