Photograph by D.R. Crandell, U.S. Geological Survey.

Mount Rainier is potentially the most dangerous volcano in the Cascades because it is very steep, covered in large amounts of ice and snow, and near a large population that lives in lowland drainages. Numerous debris avalanches start on the volcano. The largest debris avalanche traveled more than 60 miles (100 km) to Puget Sound. The most recent eruption was about 2,200 years ago and covered the eastern half of the park with up to one foot (30 cm) of lapilli, blocks, and bombs.

"Debris Flow, Debris Avalanche, and Flood Hazards At and Downstream from Mount Rainier," consists of maps showing potential areas and probabilities of inundation, and was published as "USGS Hydrologic Investigations Atlas 729," by K.M. Scott and J.W.Vallance. The U.S. Geological Survey's Cascade Volcano Observatory homepage provides lots of useful information on these hazards and on Mount Rainier.

Steve Mattox

To learn about Mount Rainier National Park click here

Additional reading:
Mount Rainier, Active Cascade Volcano; 1994; U. S. Geodynamics Committee; National Academy Press 2101 Constitution Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20418, 114 pages,

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