Knowra North Cascades North Cascades The North Cascades are a rugged section of the Cascade Range in northwestern Washington and southwestern British Columbia, distinguished by glaciated peaks and deep valleys.
Cascade Range : A major mountain range extending from British Columbia through Washington and Oregon into northern California. The North Cascades form the range’s northern, especially rugged section.
Glacier : A persistent body of land ice that moves under its own weight. Glaciers carve and occupy many high valleys in the North Cascades.
Mount Shuksan : A glaciated mountain in Washington, northeast of Mount Baker, rising to 9,131 feet. Its steep summit and glaciers exemplify the region’s dramatic alpine scenery.
North Cascades National Park Complex : A National Park Service unit comprising North Cascades National Park and two adjacent national recreation areas. It is the principal federal framework for conserving much of the region.
Climate change in Washington : Observed and projected changes in Washington’s climate, including warming, shifting precipitation, and declining snowpack. Warming affects the North Cascades’ glaciers, snowpack, rivers, and ecosystems.
North American Cordillera : The extensive mountain system along western North America, including the Rocky Mountains and Pacific coastal ranges. The Cascades belong to this continent-scale mountain system.
North Cascades glaciers : The mountain glaciers of Washington’s North Cascades, concentrated at high elevations. They are a defining feature of the region and have declined markedly in recent decades.
Mount Baker : An active stratovolcano in the North Cascades of Washington, reaching 10,781 feet. It is the range’s prominent volcanic peak and hosts extensive glacier ice.
Wilderness area : A legally protected area managed to preserve its natural conditions and limit development. Large wilderness designations keep extensive North Cascades landscapes roadless.
Glacier mass balance : The difference between the snow and ice a glacier gains and the ice it loses over time. Measurements reveal whether North Cascades glaciers are growing or shrinking.
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