Glacier Peak is the most remote of the five active volcanoes in Washington State. It is not prominently visible from any major population center, and so its attractions, as well as its hazards, tend to be over-looked. Yet since the end of the last ice age, Glacier Peak has produced some of the largest and most explosive eruptions in the state. During this time period, Glacier Peak has erupted multiple times during at least six separate episodes, most recently about 300 years ago. What were these eruptions like? Could similar ones affect us today? Scientists from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) are working to answer these questions and help prepare for future activity. -- From: Mastin and Waitt, 2000 |