Cougar Mountain facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Cougar Mountain
Cougar Mountain Location in Washington (state)
Highest point
Elevation	1,614 ft (492 m)
Geography
Location	Eastside King County, Washington (state), U.S.
Parent range	Issaquah Alps

Cougar Mountain is a special hill in King County, Washington. It's part of a group of hills called the Issaquah Alps. Located near Seattle, it's the lowest and most western of these hills, standing at 1,614 feet tall. Even though many homes are built on Cougar Mountain, a large part of it is protected as Cougar Mountain Regional Wildland Park. This park helps keep the forests and wildlife safe. You can also visit the Cougar Mountain Zoo here!

How Cougar Mountain Was Formed

Cougar Mountain was created a very long time ago, during a period called the Miocene era. This happened when powerful forces deep within the Earth pushed and folded the land in western Washington. Imagine pushing a rug from both ends – it would wrinkle up! This folding created a big arch in the rock layers, which scientists call the Newcastle Anticline.

This folding brought older rocks to the surface. These rocks were made of two main types:

• Sedimentary rocks: These are formed from layers of sand, mud, and tiny bits of plants and animals that settled over millions of years.
• Volcanic rocks: These are formed from cooled lava and ash from ancient volcanoes.

Over time, wind and water wore away parts of these rocks, shaping Cougar Mountain into what we see today. The northern edge of Cougar Mountain is special because of the Seattle Fault, a large crack in the Earth's crust. This fault caused a big earthquake about 1,100 years ago.

Nature and Wildlife on Cougar Mountain

Cougar Mountain is part of a unique natural area called the Eastern Puget Uplands. This area is a mix between the ecosystems found near Puget Sound and the larger forests of the Cascade Range. This means Cougar Mountain has plants and animals that are similar to those found on the Sammamish Plateau.

Long ago, many of the same types of plants and animals found on Cougar Mountain were common closer to Puget Sound. However, a lot of logging (cutting down trees) has happened over the years. This has made the natural environment less diverse than it used to be. Still, the protected park areas on Cougar Mountain are important for keeping these species safe.

Amazing Views from the Top

From the top of Cougar Mountain, you can see some really cool sights! You can look out over the city of Seattle and see Mercer Island in Lake Washington. You can also spot The Golf Club at Newcastle and, on a clear day, even the tall peaks of the Olympic Mountains in the distance.

Radio Transmitters on the Mountain

Cougar Mountain is also home to several radio transmitters for stations in the Seattle area. These tall towers help send radio signals to your radios. Some of the stations that use transmitters here include:

• KNHC 89.5
• KBCS 91.3
• KUBE 93.3
• KJR-FM 95.7
• KPLZ-FM 101.5
• KLSW 104.5
• KCMS-FM 105.3
• KRWM 106.9
• KHB60 162.550