Cascade Range
Major mountain range of western North America with notable volcanoes.
- Location
- Western North America, from southern British Columbia to Northern California
- Notable volcanoes
- Lassen Peak, Mount St. Helens, Mount Rainier, Mount Baker, Mount Hood, Mount Ada
- Part of
- Pacific Ring of Fire and American Cordillera
Lore & Background
Helens. Helens.
Reader's Guide
Helens. The Cascades receive heavy precipitation on their western slopes due to orographic lift, with record snowfalls exceeding 1,000 inches annually.
Did You Know?
- The Cascade Range is listed as a mountain range by length at 1,100 km (680 mi) in the source.
- The range is a section of the North American Cordillera, which is listed at 6,400 km (4,000 mi).
- All eruptions in the contiguous United States over the last 200 years have been from the Cascade Volcanoes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Cascade Range?
The Cascade Range is a major mountain system stretching across western North America, running from southern British Columbia down through Washington, Oregon, and into Northern California. It combines both non-volcanic peaks and a chain of prominent volcanoes collectively called the High Cascades.
What are Cascade Range's powers/role?
Sitting within the Pacific Ring of Fire and the broader American Cordillera, the Cascades are one of the most volcanically active regions on the continent. Peaks such as Mount St. Helens, Mount Rainier, and Lassen Peak have all produced eruptions, with St. Helens famously exploding in 1980.
How does Cascade Range's story end?
As a living geological feature the Cascades have no true finale, but their most recent dramatic chapter was Mount St. Helens' 1980 eruption, followed by minor activity between 2004 and 2008. Lassen Peak's last eruptive period ran from 1914 to 1921, and the range's dormant volcanoes remain under continuous monitoring.
Why is Cascade Range important?
The range shelters several major national parks, including North Cascades, Mount Rainier, Crater Lake, and Lassen Volcanic National Park, making it a centerpiece of American wilderness. It also holds an extreme-snowfall record, with Mount Baker accumulating 1,140 inches during the 1998–99 season.
What is Cascade Range's highest peak?
Mount Rainier holds the top spot at 14,411 feet (4,392 meters) above sea level. It towers over neighboring High Cascades volcanoes such as Mount Baker, Mount Hood, and Mount Adams.
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