CASCADE MOUNTAINS

Named for the many cascading waterfalls that percolate through the range, the Cascades stretch from British Columbia down through Mount Shasta in northern California.  This range consists of many Volcanoes which rise well above the surrounding mountains.  Many of these volcanoes are over 10,000 feet above sea level with the two largest (Rainier and Shasta) being within a few hundred feet of the lower 49's tallest and starting at bases that are much lower.  It is for this reason that one can say the Cascades have the tallest mountains in the contiguous United States.  Like the Coastal mountains the Cascades get lots of rain on the western slopes and have rainforests on many of the lower sections.  There are also many glaciers on some of the volcanic peaks especially as you get into northern Washington.