• Source: Cowlitz Chimneys

Cowlitz Chimneys are a group of four rhyolite towers located in Mount Rainier National Park in Pierce County of Washington state. As part of the Cascade Range, the Cowlitz Chimneys are situated southwest of Tamanos Mountain and east of Banshee Peak, all of which are visible from the Sunrise Historic District. The Sarvant Glacier is set on the north aspect of these remnants of a volcanic plug. Cowlitz is the name of several geographical features in Mount Rainier National Park, as well as the state of Washington. The name appeared as early as the Lewis and Clark journals of 1805 when it was written as "Cowliskee" and has the Chinook Jargon meaning of "capturing the medicine spirit".

Main (South) Cowlitz Chimney - 7,605 ft
Central Cowlitz Chimney - 7,421 ft
North Cowlitz Chimney - 7,015 ft
Third Cowlitz Chimney - 6,640+ ft




Climate


The Cowlitz Chimneys are located in the marine west coast climate zone of western North America. Most weather fronts originating in the Pacific Ocean travel northeast toward the Cascade Mountains. As fronts approach, they are forced upward by the peaks of the Cascade Range (orographic lift), causing them to drop their moisture in the form of rain or snow onto the Cascades. As a result, the west side of the Cascades experiences high precipitation, especially during the winter months in the form of snowfall. Because of maritime influence, snow tends to be wet and heavy, resulting in high avalanche danger. During winter months, weather is usually cloudy, but due to high pressure systems over the Pacific Ocean that intensify during summer months, there is often little or no cloud cover during the summer. Precipitation runoff from Cowlitz Chimneys drains into the Cowlitz River.




See also



Geography of Washington (state)
Geology of the Pacific Northwest




References






External links



Media related to Cowlitz Chimneys at Wikimedia Commons
National Park Service web site: Mount Rainier National Park
Cowlitz Chimneys weather: Mountain Forecast

Kata Kunci Pencarian:

• Cowlitz Chimneys
• Cowlitz
• List of glaciers in the United States
• Sarvant Glacier
• Panhandle Gap
• Double Peak (Washington)
• Tamanos Mountain
• Banshee Peak
• Goat Island Mountain
• Shriner Peak