Cascade Range facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Cascade Range
The Cascades in Washington, with Mount Rainier, the range's highest mountain, standing at 14,411 ft (4,392 m). Seen in the background (left to right) are Mount Adams, Mount Hood, and Mount St. Helens.
Highest point
Peak	Mount Rainier
Elevation	14,411 ft (4,392 m)
Dimensions
Length	700 mi (1,100 km) north-south
Width	80 mi (130 km)
Geography
Countries	United States and Canada
Provinces/States	British Columbia, Washington, Oregon, and California

Map of the Cascade Range showing major volcanic peaks

The Cascade Range is a long chain of mountains in western North America. It stretches from northern California, through Oregon and Washington, all the way into British Columbia, Canada. This mountain range includes the Western Cascades and the North and Canadian Cascades.

The Cascades are part of the "Pacific Ring of Fire". This is a huge ring of volcanoes and mountains around the Pacific Ocean. Famous volcanoes in the Cascades include Mount St. Helens, Mount Rainier, and Mount Shasta. The Cascades are also part of the "American Cordillera". This is a nearly unbroken line of mountains running down the western side of the Americas.

The tallest mountain in the Cascade Range is Mount Rainier. It stands at 14,411 feet (4,392 meters) high.

How the Cascades Were Formed

The Cascade Range was created by thousands of small volcanoes. Over time, these volcanoes built up a base of lava and volcanic rock. On top of this base, a few very large volcanoes grew. These big volcanoes, like Mount St. Helens, now stand out in the landscape.

The main reason for these mountains is how the Earth's huge landmasses move. The continents are slowly drifting away from Eurasia and Africa. This movement is powered by new material forming on the seabed at the Mid-Atlantic Ridge.

As the Americas move, the edges of the Pacific plates get pushed and bent. This causes volcanoes to keep forming mountains on the western side of the continents. The Cascade Volcanic Arc first appeared about 36 million years ago. The biggest volcanic peaks we see today were formed in the last 1.6 million years. More than 3,000 volcanic vents erupted during the most recent period of activity, which started 5 million years ago. As long as the Earth's plates keep moving this way, new Cascade volcanoes will continue to rise.

Here's how it works: An oceanic plate sinks deep into the Earth under a continental plate. This process is called subduction. High heat and pressure cause water trapped in the rocks to escape. This water vapor rises into the soft rock above the sinking plate. This makes some of that rock melt, forming magma. This new magma then rises to the surface and erupts, creating a chain of volcanoes.

Wikisource has the text of the 1905 New International Encyclopedia article Cascade Range.

Images for kids

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  The Columbia River Gorge is where the Columbia River cuts through the Cascade Range. It divides Washington and Oregon.

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  A summer view of Mount Shuksan from Artist Point in Washington.

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  Mount Hood is the highest point in the U.S. state of Oregon.

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  The Coquihalla River flows through the Canadian Cascades.

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  Lassen Peak in the California Cascades. It is the southernmost volcano in the Cascade Range and part of Lassen Volcanic National Park.

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  The 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens.

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  Oval-leaf blueberry growing on Mount Pilchuck.

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  A mountain goat on Wallaby Peak in the North Cascades.

See also

In Spanish: Cordillera de las Cascadas para niños