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FACT SHEET:
History of Landslides and Debris Flows at Mount Rainier, Washington


-- Kevin M. Scott and James W. Vallance, 1993,
History of Landslides and Debris Flows at Mount Rainier, Washington: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 93-111
Many landslides and debris flows have originated from Mount Rainier since the retreat of glaciers from Puget Sound about 10,000 years ago. The recurrent instability is due to several factors--height of the steep-sided volcanic cone, frequent volcanic activity, continuous weakening of rock by steam and hot, chemical-laden water, and exposure of unstable areas as the mountains glaciers have receded. the landslide scars and deposits tell a fascinating story of the changing shape of the volcano. -- Scott and Vallance, 1993

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09/11/06, Lyn Topinka