Mount Shasta facts for kids
Mount Shasta is a giant, cone-shaped dormant volcano located in northern California, United States. It's a very tall mountain that stands out all by itself in a mostly flat area. This huge mountain is part of the Cascade Range, a chain of volcanoes that stretches across western North America.
Mount Shasta is known as a stratovolcano, which means it's built up over many years from layers of hardened lava, ash, and rocks from past eruptions. Even though it's currently "sleeping" (dormant), scientists expect it to erupt again someday.
About Mount Shasta
Mount Shasta rises an impressive 9,822 feet (about 2,994 meters) above the land around it. It has a smaller peak right next to it called Shastina. The mountain is also home to seven glaciers, which are large, slow-moving rivers of ice.
The Sacramento River flows south near the western side of the mountain. Many places in the area are named after Mount Shasta, including the town of Mount Shasta and the large Shasta Lake Reservoir, which was formed by the Shasta Dam.
What is a Dormant Volcano?
A dormant volcano is like a sleeping giant. It hasn't erupted for a long time, but it's not truly extinct (dead). This means it could become active again in the future. Mount Shasta has erupted many times in the past, shaping the landscape around it. Scientists study volcanoes like Mount Shasta to understand their patterns and predict when they might wake up.
Glaciers and Water
The glaciers on Mount Shasta are important because they store a lot of ice and snow. When this ice melts, it feeds rivers and streams, providing water for the surrounding areas. The water from Mount Shasta's glaciers and snowmelt contributes to the Sacramento River, which is a vital water source for California.
Images for kids
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Mount Shasta seen from south of Weed, California
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Clarence King exploring the Whitney Glacier in 1870
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Sunrise on Mount Shasta
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Nearby Black Butte, seen from Weed, California
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Diller Canyon on Shastina from Weed
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Mount Shasta's west face as seen from Hidden Valley high on the mountain. The west face gulley is an alternate climbing route to the summit.
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Mount Shasta's west face, June 2009
See also
In Spanish: Monte Shasta para niños
