Friday 4 July 2014
Mount Rainier is a massive stratovolcano located 54 miles southeast of Seattle in the state of Washington, United States. It is the most topographically prominent mountain in the contiguous United States and the Cascade Volcanic Arc, with a summit elevation of 14,411 ft. Mt. Rainier is considered one of the most dangerous volcanoes in the world, and it is on the Decade Volcano list. Because of its large amount of glacial ice, Mt. Rainier could potentially produce massive lahars that would threaten the whole Puyallup River valley. Mount Rainier was first known by the Native Americans as Talol, or Tacoma or Tahoma, from the Lushootseed word ("mother of waters") spoken by the Puyallup. Another interpretation is that "Tacoma" means "larger than Mount Baker". This comes from the Skagit "Ta", larger, plus "Koma (Kulshan)", Mount Baker. The current name was given by George Vancouver, who named it in honor of his friend, Rear Admiral Peter Rainier. The map of Lewis and Clark expedition of 1804-1806 refers to it as "Mt. Regniere". Source
