How often do giant debris flows occur at Mount Rainier? <!-- volcano, landslide -->
USGS - science for a changing world

Frequently Asked Questions

Maps, Imagery, and Publications Hazards Newsroom Education Jobs Partnerships Library About USGS Podcasts/RSS
Home > FAQ

USGS Frequently Asked Questions

Question: How often do giant debris flows occur at Mount Rainier?

Answer:

During the past 10,000 years, about 60 giant debris flows from Mount Rainier have filled river valleys to a depth of hundreds of feet near the volcano, and have buried the land surface under many feet of mud and rock sixty miles downstream. Seven debris flows large enough to reach Puget Sound have occurred in the past 6,000 years. -- From: Walder and Driedger, 1995, Living With a Volcano in Your Backyard - Volcanic Hazards at Mount Rainier: USGS Open-File Report 95-421.

Source of this FAQ:
http://vulcan.wr.usgs.gov/LivingWith/VolcanicFacts/misc_volcanic_facts.html

Return to list

 

Accessibility FOIA Privacy Policies and Notices

Take Pride in America logo USA.gov logo U.S. Department of the Interior | U.S. Geological Survey
URL: http://www.usgs.gov
Page Contact Information: USGS Web
Page Last Modified: