That's My World - The Cascades

That's My World is hosted each week by Klaus and the That's My World Team, Klaus, Sandy, Wren, Fishing Guy, Louise and myself. It's a fun place to share the beauty, the history and the interesting things about your world. Click on the icon, sign up and join the fun! PLEASE do read and follow the instructions before signing in! Thank you!! Enjoy!



One of the major points of interest in the northwest is the Cascades, a mountain range that covers a very large area in British Columbia, Washington, Oregon all the way to Northern California. It has a fascinating history as well as incredible beauty. Today I'll try to share a little of both! Photos courtesy of Google. Remember to click on any of the photos to embiggen!



The Cascade Range (or Cascades) is a major mountain range of western North America, extending from southern British Columbia through Washington and Oregon to Northern California. It includes both non-volcanic mountains, such as the North Cascades, and the notable volcanoes known as the High Cascades.



The Cascades are part of the Pacific Ring of Fire, the ring of volcanoes and associated mountains around the Pacific Ocean. All of the known historic eruptions in the contiguous United States have been from Cascade volcanoes. The two most recent were Lassen Peak in 1914 to 1921 and a major eruption of Mount St. Helens in 1980. Minor eruptions of Mount St. Helens have also occurred since, most recently in 2006.



Indigenous peoples have inhabited the area for thousands of years and developed their own myths and legends concerning the Cascades. According to some of these tales, Mounts Baker, Jefferson, and Shasta were used as refuge from a great flood. Other stories, such as the Bridge of the Gods tale, had various High Cascades such as Hood and Adams, act as god-like chiefs who made war by throwing fire and stone at each other. St. Helens with its pre-1980 graceful appearance, was regaled as a beautiful maiden for whom Hood and Adams feuded. Among the many stories concerning Mount Baker, one tells that the mountain was formerly married to Mount Rainier and lived in that vicinity. Then, because of a marital dispute, she picked herself up and marched north to her present position. Native tribes also developed their own names for the High Cascades and many of the smaller peaks, the most well-known to non-natives being Tahoma, the Lushootseed name for Mount Rainier.



For more fascinating history of the Cascades click here.



It's difficult to find a more beautiful place than the northwest and the Cascades are one of the many features that create that beauty.



Takes your breath away doesn't it?