| Glaciers are among the most conspicuous and dynamic geologic features on Mount Rainier in Washington State. They erode the volcanic cone and are important sources of streamflow for several rivers, including some that provide water for hydroelectric power and irrigation. Together with perennial snow patches, glaciers cover about 36 square miles of the mountain's surface, about nine percent of the total park area, and have a volume of about 1 cubic mile. -- Driedger, 1993 |
