Mount Rainier, also known as Tahoma, is a large active stratovolcano located in the Cascade Range of the Pacific Northwest, United States. It is situated within Mount Rainier National Park, approximately 59 miles south-southeast of Seattle. With a summit elevation of 14,410 feet, it is the highest mountain in Washington state and the most topographically prominent peak in the contiguous United States.
The mountain is notable not only for its impressive height but also for its status as one of the most dangerous volcanoes in the United States. Its significant glacial ice cover means that any potential eruption could trigger massive lahars, or volcanic mudflows, which pose a serious threat to the densely populated surrounding areas, including the Puget Sound region.
Recently, Mount Rainier has been in the news due to increased volcanic activity. In late 2025, a series of scientific reports highlighted an unprecedented phase of sustained tremors at the volcano, sparking discussions among experts about the potential for a future eruption and renewing public focus on emergency preparedness plans for the region.
Concurrently, the area has been featured in reports concerning the challenges facing Mount Rainier National Park. These include infrastructure issues, such as a critical bridge failure affecting a gateway community, and ongoing scientific studies monitoring changes in the mountain's glacial cover and overall mass.
Latest related news
- Tremors at one of America’s most dangerous volcanoes spark eruption fears - Metro.co.uk 2025-11-19 22:30 · Metro.co.uk
- America's deadliest volcano enters unprecedented 72-hour tremor phase as eruption threat looms - MSN 2025-11-19 17:19 · MSN
- Off-duty Alaska pilot who tried to cut flight's engines midair avoids federal prison - KUOW 2025-11-18 04:30 · KUOW
- After bridge failure, a national park gateway faces its ghost town moment - SFGATE 2025-11-17 20:17 · SFGATE
- Measuring The Shrinking Of Mount Rainier - National Parks Traveler 2025-11-16 16:30 · National Parks Traveler
- A New Report Suggests Mount Rainier Is Getting Shorter - Outside Magazine 2025-11-15 02:11 · Outside Magazine
- New 139-acre park near Mount Rainier will have trails and possibly campsites - Tacoma News Tribune 2025-11-13 21:30 · Tacoma News Tribune
- New research reveals rapid shrinking of Mount Rainier - Cache Valley Daily 2025-11-13 09:00 · Cache Valley Daily
- Melting Mountains: New Research Reveals Rapid Shrinking of Mount Rainier, Other Ice-Capped Peaks - Utah State University 2025-11-12 08:00 · Utah State University
- Mount Rainier Has Shrunk, and Its Summit Location Has Changed - Explorersweb » 2025-11-12 04:05 · Explorersweb »