Uniqueness of Mt. Rainier National Park - 4K Documentary Film (with Narration)

mount rainier national park in washington   state is one of the most significant and  scenic attractions in the united states a nature reserve in the northwest corner  of the country covers the entire mount   rainier and surrounding area 369 000 square miles  covered in sub-alpine meadows in ancient forests the difference in height in the park ranges from  sixteen hundred seven feet to fourteen thousand   one hundred seven at the top of the active mount  rain air there are huge glaciers that give rise to   five rivers at once including the puyallup and  white rivers the national park is a favorite   destination for all outdoor enthusiasts in the  united states and boasts everything you need   scenic trails trekking picnic  areas a hotel and a tourist center   more than 1.5 million tourists from all over  the world come annually to enjoy the various   outdoor activities and immerse themselves in  the impeccable beauty of this natural wonder the main distinguishing feature of mount rainier  that has attracted many tourists archaeologists   and historians for a long time is the largest  straddle volcano in this part of the world   also known as tahoma or mother of rivers this  volcano is visible from anywhere in the park   and amazes everyone with its beauty and grandeur   a huge glacier at the top provides fresh water  to washington and seattle the mountain slopes   are also covered with glaciers in caves  with a total length of more than 1.9 miles   the park territory has a rather extensive  history historical facts prove that humans   settled at the foot of the mountain as early as  6 000 years ago the indian tribes living in this   territory considered this land sacred and used the  caves for rituals and communicating with spirits   the volcano owes its modern name to captain  george vancouver who first looked at a towering   mountain of stunning beauty in the west and  named it after his close friend peter rainier the top of mount rainier has such a wide surface  that it's conventionally divided into three peaks   the highest one is the columbia ridge the second  highest is the peak of success and the lowest is   the dome of liberty seismologists from all over  the world have long attributed mount rainier   to the 20 known volcanoes on earth which  would cause catastrophic consequences   if it ever erupted in the event of an explosion of  this super volcano the effects would be disastrous   for a large number of people mud streams  lahars can destroy a dozen nearby settlements   on average about five earthquakes are  recorded annually at the foot of the mountain   it's believed that these phenomena  are caused by the circulation of hot   fluids through the underwater channels  located under the volcano mount rainier   is an active super volcano its last eruption  was dated between 1820 and 1854 however many   spectators said that volcanic activity in the  form of multi-day swarms with earthquakes and   local explosions of hot geysers from underground  was observed in 1858 1870 1879 1882 and 1894.   according to this the volcano has been dormant  for more than 100 years tourists visit the park   all year round walking among mountain trails with  a total length of 480 kilometers in the summer   time the park amazes with its beauty and pristine  nature to everyone who's lucky enough to visit the mowitz river with crystal-clear water in which  every pebble and every blade of grass is visible   is surrounded by a majestic evergreen forest and  reflecting mount rainier like a mirror just have   a look at how beautiful it is around here well  groomed trails along the lake give everyone   the opportunity to enjoy a magnificent picture of  the calm water surface and the slopes overhanging   the lake covered with a dense coniferous  forest and how fresh and clear the areas we will walk along the park's hiking trails admire  the views of mount rainier from different points   and get acquainted with the incredible beauty  of places saturated with centuries of history   and the spirit of the wildlife let's start our  walk from the northwest side of the reserve   the spray park trail begins at paradise  falls on mowich lake and is six miles long this beautiful trail winds up and down through  woodlands notice the trees covered with long   fibrous moss and there's also complete silence  broken only by our breathing and footsteps stunning landscapes huge trees hills and rocks  covered with a thick carpet of moss and grass   you can easily imagine yourself as  if you were in a fairy land or one of   the films about hobbits new zealand of course  perfectly matched the surroundings but you see   mount rainier national park is also able  to create an atmosphere of a fairy tale   the root of the trail is quite difficult  but you know it's worth it the spray park   trail takes you to eagle rock for  stunning views of mount rainier   walking along the park in the paradise area  you'll surely pass through peculiar alpine meadows   and sub-alpine zones picturesque  flower meadows appear at an altitude   around 4 500 feet and become more extensive  with increasing altitude as the trees thin   out and give way above the forest line  at an altitude around seven thousand feet on the mountain slopes large amounts of  moisture from glaciers and frequent rainfall   mixed with volcanic soils and intense  sunlight during the warmer months   to kick off some of the most  stunning wildflower meadows on earth the area of alpine and sub-alpine meadows  attracts a huge number of tourists every year   moreover from here opens up an  incredible view of mount rainier many flowers the richest herbs grow here  with an incredibly beautiful vibrant carpet   the peak of the meadows blossoms  is largely dependent on the season   and the weather conditions the traditionally  active flowering period is mid-july and august   such a short time is due to the  fact that even at the beginning of   summer there still may be snow in the territory of  alpine meadows and frosts are frequent in august   flowers are trying to show themselves off to the  world and quickly giving rise to berries before   the first cold weather arrives the variety  of colors and delicious aroma attract many   insects for pollination which is quite  useful with the arrival of autumn   the more actively meadow flowers bloom the  more berries and nutritious plants will appear   with the arrival of the harvest season and will  provide the necessary food for forest dwellers   avalanche lilies seduce travelers with  their flowering and lure them off the trail   and pink spirea lupine and bright yellow sink  foil seem to protect vulnerable flowers from   accidental damage and highlight the walkways  digitalis purpurea asters daisies fireweed   purple shooting stars and many other flowers cover  the mountain with all the colors of the rainbow   hundreds of tourists come here this time of  year to experience the riot of colors and aromas the ideal natural setting for a  multitude of flowers and grasses   makes paradise the most visited area of mount  rainier national park in the summer it is rather   difficult to find a free parking space here  so we recommend you choose weekdays to visit   and plan your days so that you can arrive  here as early as possible in the morning many hiking trails of varying degrees  of difficulties start from this area   the reflection lakes trail gives you the  opportunity to enjoy the riot of flowers   around lakes and if you have time to come here  at sunset you'll see the incredible sight of how   the water surface turns pink in the rays of the  setting sun and the reflection of the wildflowers the sheep lake trail will delight you with  the lush bloom of western pascarelli scented   valerian and the magnificent mountain views in  addition this trail is not too difficult and   is great for an easy walk with children a huge  variety of wild flowers such as purple brush   asters and gentian can be found in the grand  park the adjacent berkeley park will delight   you with golden glacial and white avalanche lilies  blooming side by side and the pinnacle creek will   surprise the guests of the park with an endless  living carpet of bright flowers and lush grass another hiking trail that gives you the  opportunity to enjoy the variety of alpine   colors is the famous skyline trail this trail  is 5.5 miles long has moderate terrain and   almost completely bends around the paradise area  allowing for stunning views of the flooded meadows   scenic slopes and the nisqually glacier if you're  lucky to be here on a clear warm day you'll   also enjoy views of the rugged tattoos peaks  mount adams mount saint helens and mount hood the skyline trail leads to one of the  must-see spots the panorama point the   path begins with stone steps near the  visitors center and briefly climbs uphill   to a series of intersections this  main trail also provides access   to alta vista the glacier vista trail  and other flower trails or viewpoints having reached an altitude of 627 feet we reached  panorama point just look at how mysterious the   peaks look like a peekaboo game with the sun's  rays they hide in the clouds then again show   themselves to the world in the bright shine of  the daylight reflected from ancient glaciers a   fabulous place and beauty that will take your  breath away further from panorama point the   skyline trail continues to lead and amaze us as it  opens up even more views the trail descends to the   wreckage of the lunar landscape of an ancient  moraine mixed with snow patches as you descend   the world of rocks and snow gradually give way  to gentle meadows and moss-covered river banks with the arrival of autumn the greens of the  alpine meadows repose power in hands to gold   yellow orange and brown colors wild berries  begin to ripen and they'll serve as food for   many inhabitants of mount rainier national  park together with roots and other plants   unfortunately the change in climatic conditions  in the world has not spared the park's territory   scientists have noticed that in recent years due  to global warming snow from the slopes of the   mountains falls several weeks earlier this in turn  shifts the schedule of active flowering and the   pollination of plants in alpine and sub-alpine  meadows which is a good cause for concern   a team of researchers made this discovering using  crowd-sourced photos of mount rainier's sub-alpine   meadows from 2009 to 2015. as they reported in  an article published in frontiers in ecology   and the environment 2015 was an unusually  warm and dry year with snow melting from   the meadows about two months earlier than usual  as a result the wildflower season was shorter   and came earlier scientists predict that in the  future this trend will keep and this will not only   hit the economy of the park but may also cause  great damage to the ecosystem of alpine meadows   in autumn especially after thanksgiving the  number of tourists coming here decreases a little   but this does not mean that mount rainier national  park is losing its beauty definitely not with   the onset of autumn the colors change their  appearance turning into a kingdom of yellow   red orange and other warm tones the glow  of deciduous plants covering the slopes   like a warm blanket attracts devotees of  comfort and atmosphere and also gives the   opportunity to the park service to prepare  for the winter season of mountain tourism   caillou's pass is one of the tourist attractions  and the starting point of many routes   the 4675-foot pass will delight you with stunning  views through relic forest and glacial lakes there is a tense city near the lake but  like other picturesque parts of the park   it is closed for visits in autumn and winter the pinnacle peak trail starts on the south  side of reflection lakes and at 6562 feet   it is considered the third highest peak in the  range the trail soon becomes a steep climb to   the 5920 foot saddle where the trail ends the path  is rather narrow and difficult from place to place   but it's definitely worth the effort  due to the stunning views along the way great trees of the relic forest  cliffs covered with moss and grasses   and stunning views of mount rainier  which rises above the clouds one of the defining features of mount  rainier is its ability to catch the sun   and cast shadows over the clouds scientists  have recognized this phenomenon as one of   the rarest in nature and you can admire  it in the ottoman winter periods when   blocking the sun the top of the mountain  completely coincides with the clouds one of the most significant and stunning views  of mount rainier is the area of reflection lakes   in summer the lakes are bordered with  wildflowers and with the onset of autumn   they become a mirror of autumn color photographers  and videographers from beginners to professionals   love to shoot here regardless of the season the  name of the trail and the lake speaks for itself   just look at the surface of the water the forests  the hills the mountains that are reflected in it   indeed is in the best of mirrors and in summer  the lake is surrounded by a riot of wildflowers   then with autumn arriving is covered with  incredible crimson leaves and autumn long   flowering flowers like most popular hiking trails  the reflection lakes trail is also quite crowded   and visitors should choose the early hours of  the day to get a spot in the nearest parking lot   this trail is approximately three  miles long winding and you're able   to start walking on it from both ends  of the parking lot next to the lakes   starting from the western side of the lake  the trail climbs the ridge above the lake   and follows it to distant rock then descends  back to the lake distant rock overlooks lake   louise and stevens canyon in the east as well as  the southwestern tatus ridge and reflection lakes   the trail is quite difficult at times cut  by tree roots and rocks the eastern side   of the loop from distant rock to reflection  lakes is steeper with stone and log steps   nevertheless despite the difficulty in the path  in some places this trail is definitely worth   the effort just look at the riot of colors  you'll experience like a burning flame from   autumn bonfires a floral carpet that covers  the hillsides sharp contrasts of yellow red   and orange with evergreen spruces and pines  and of course the ancient stratovolcano rainier   towering over this entire splendor in an instant  you can observe the natural cycle of the year   the green of spring the brightness of summer the  crimson of autumn and the snow caps of winter walking along the trail will also lead you  to the breathtaking point the narrata falls   originating from the paradise river the narada  falls amazes with its strength and beauty   a rainbow often decorates their stormy  streams and gives the feeling of a fairy tale   in the warm season and in autumn it  is stunningly beautiful but rather wet   and in winter it is also very slippery narada  falls consists of two parts with a total height   of 188 feet the upper part is a horse tail that is  used by strands falling from an almost sheer cliff   into the canyon the lower part  is a kind of cavity much smaller   in size with the onset of cold weather the  upper part freezes and forms sheer icicles   150 feet long which attracts many ice climbers  a stream of water flows through a sheer cliff the skyline trail we mentioned earlier is  also incredibly transformed when autumn comes   the hillsides are covered with a red and  yellow carpet giant trees keeping up with   the times change their green outfits to  bright colors compared to the stunning   greenery and the riot of summertime colors the  hues of the warm spectrum prevail in the fall   further emphasizing the majesty and cold beauty  of mount rainier and of course the stone steps   a natural rock debris flanking the trail to  panorama point the autumn painting of mount   rainier national park is like a masterfully  drawn set for the autobiography of earth the view from panorama point leaves no room  for thought winter is coming it gradually   descends from the top of the mountains along with  glaciers snow and fresh frosty air replacing the   period of flowering and activity of wildlife  and bringing peace and tranquility with it there is one more notable spot in the paradise  area myrtle falls widely regarded as one of the   most photographed spots in mount rainier national  park so don't be surprised to see crowds of people   equipped with cameras here in addition it is also  a fairly easy way to the beautiful waterfall and   the waterfall of myrtle falls is worth describing  separately a distinctive feature as you can see   are small stones polished to sharpness cutting  the water flow turning one continuous stream   into several thin streams constantly intertwining  with each other and the picturesque white bridge   over the waterfall is a favorite place for lovers  to propose you'd have to agree it's difficult to   find a more romantic and beautiful place for one  of the most important events in someone's life no matter how beautiful it is to be here in  the warm season or during the golden autumn   winter still regains its possessions it  comes gradually descending from the peaks   with a cold wind snow and ice and the  time comes for skiing and mountaineering the park has a variety of recreational  opportunities including sledding   skiing snowboarding snow shoeing  mountain climbing and camping this area receives an average of 54 feet of  snow park staff and rangers do everything in   their power to maintain the safety and comfort  of winter lovers but unfortunately nature is   stronger than humans the amount of snow falling  on the slopes of the mountain is quite significant   some time ago the ranger station recorded  a record on the southern slope of over   80 feet and last year despite  all the efforts and warnings   due to too much snow on the slopes a team  of tourists fell into an almost deadly trap the guys spent several days among snow drifts and  blizzards with almost no supplies the snowfall was   so strong that the rescue helicopter could  not get close enough to even drop a rope   in the end the park's rescuers and rangers found  a way to ferry provisions and warm clothes to the   athletes as well as the coordinates of the  nearest point accessible for the helicopter   everyone survived and returned  home with minimal injuries the relic forest on the slopes of the  mountain with the arrival of cold weather   acquires in our opinion a mystical look fallen  tree trunks and branches withered shrubs   evergreen conifers and frosty haze  instead of a bright blue sky somehow   the terrible tales of the brothers grim come to  mind themselves and it seems you're about to go   to the edge where an evil old witch lives  in a dilapidated black house moss covering   stones and trees had a feeling of some kind of  unreality and further spur the flight of fantasy returning to the history and features of the park  it should be mentioned that mount rainier was   not always in the form as we know it  now evidence suggests that six thousand   years ago there were temporary settlements of  nomadic tribes in this territory and only in   the 19th century the lands near the volcano  began to be actively populated by residents   when the national park was first established  here it was difficult to get to although this   problem has now been resolved mount rainier  national park was originally not very large   but 34 000 acres of land was added to it in 1931. the 378 square miles park contains  rivers forests meadows and glaciers   since the area officially became a national park  it's begun to attract a large number of people   it was declared a national  historic landmark on february 18   1997. unfortunately at the moment there is  a high probability of a volcanic eruption   in the near future and since mount rainier is one  of the 10 most dangerous volcanoes in the world   enlisted in the volcanoes of the decade the  eruption will bring significant destruction a large amount of glacial ice means that massive  lahars glaciers threaten the entire puyallup river   valley according to the u.s geological survey  about 80 000 people and their homes are at risk   the mud flow according to scientists  could reach the mouth of the duwamish   destroy parts of downtown seattle and cause  a tsunami in puget sound and lake washington   even worse rainier threatens residents of  the state not only with glacial landslides   but also with possible hot lava flows nevertheless  despite all the risks mount rainier national park   attracts more and more tourists every year   at the time of its creation in 1906 the park was  visited by a little over 1700 people but just nine   years later that number rose to 34 814 today the  park is visited by about 2 million people a year mount rainier national park is part of a  complex ecosystem with diverse flora and fauna   about 58 of the territory is covered with relic  forests 23 or sub-alpine and alpine meadows   and the rest consists of  glaciers ancient rocks and snow the fauna of the park is quite diverse  here you can find representatives of   large animals such as mule deer roosevelt  elk black bear and mountain goats and small animals like squirrels marmots  raccoons chipmunks pikas and other rodents the bird kingdom of mount rainier also delights in  its diversity ornithologists counted more than 220   different species of birds that temporarily  or permanently live in the park territory   among the most common are gray and stellar's jays   north american walnuts crows clark's nutcrackers  hairy woodpeckers and various songbirds   and also some rare species that are protected  by federal law like the northern spotted owl season and altitude are considerations if you'd  like to see wildlife and birds it's easier to   meet a black-tailed deer but to see bear and  mountain goats you will have to really work at it   roosevelt's elk are shown more readily in  early autumn in the eastern part of the park   mountain goats are most often found in the area  of high mountain cliffs and the black bear can   change color depending on the season bears can  be light-haired brown or even reddish reptiles   and amphibians including garter snakes frogs and  salamanders also enjoy living in mount rainier   national park salmon and trout use the rivers  formed by glaciers for their homes and although   the lake ceased to be especially filled with fish  in 1972 30 lakes still have breeding populations   the status of the national park  allows the park to take good care   and protect the ecosystem unique  for the habitation of some species   animals such as the cascading red fox and  the mountain slicker usually don't live in   the area but the park is where you can find  these mammals unique to washington state the mount rainier ecosystem is quite variable  due to the climate located at different altitudes   scientists are tracking various species found  in the forest zone alpine and subalpine zones   so hundreds of species rare or almost extinct  plants and fungi have been discovered in the park   the mountain is home to 65 species of mammals  five species of reptiles 180 species of birds 14   amphibians 14 species of native  fish and countless invertebrates consisting of numerous layers of solidified lava  mount rainier rises over 13 000 feet above the   park the mountain is a part of the cascade  mountain system and considered to be their   highest point rainier is surrounded by 26 glaciers  that supply water to residents of the entire state   the most famous and significant are the evans  and nisqually glaciers both flowing down the   eastern side of rainier the volcano itself  very often affects the weather conditions   rainier traps sedimentary clouds and  this leads to devastating flooding   recently glaciers have changed their size  a lot which is proof of climate change the   reserve also boasts the lowest glacier in america  carbon it's located at an altitude of only 3 280   feet the closest major cities are tacoma and  seattle the rainier stratto volcano is considered   not yet completely extinct and seismologists  predict a possible eruption in the near future   just imagine a huge stream of red-hot mud rushing  down the mountain at high speed scientists believe   rainier is capable of producing lahars that flow  down slopes at speeds of up to 44 miles an hour   geologist jeff clayton believes a mud flow  the size of osceola could destroy the cities   of enumclaw ording kent auburn sumner and renton  flood seattle with mud and cause tsunamis in lake   washington and puget sound all the cities  in the area have an early warning system   in the event of an eruption numerous  settlements nearby will be completely destroyed   residents of the cities of boarding sumner buckley  and enumclaw have only 30 minutes to escape   a powerful stream accelerated by the rivers  descending from rainier would then bury their   homes under a 98-foot layer of mud and debris  even large cities cannot escape the disaster   auburn and puella for the total population of  around 80 000 will be covered by a 19-foot lahar   in less than an hour while in tacoma with  nearly 200 000 residents they will be washed   away by a nine-foot mud flow in one and  a half hours if rain air exploded today   its eruption would be the worst  national disaster in u.s history   but local residents are not afraid of these  forecasts and continue to actively settle nearby mount rainier national park attracts  around 2 million tourists annually   which puts it on par with the grand  canyon zion and yellowstone national parks one of the most popular tourist destinations  is paradise valley on the southern slope   all the necessary conditions for  tourism have been created in the park   trails for hiking or skiing routes for mountain  tourism guest houses and camping for recreation   a hotel shops and even a museum have been  developed mount rainier national park   is also famous for its waterfalls and narada falls  is perhaps the most significant and frequently   visited in the grove of the patriarchs there  are ancient trees up to 13 feet in diameter it's   believed that this collection is the remains of a  forest that has existed since pre-columbian times   the climate is cold and humid aided  by the proximity of the pacific ocean   rain is most likely in late summer and spring  in winter a large amount of snowfall is common   tourists who decide to visit the park  should remember that the weather here   changes all the time rain and cold wind can  start quite suddenly and spoil the experience   of the tripoloo so we strongly advise you  to carefully check the weather forecast   stock up on warm waterproof clothing and then go  ahead and conquer the peaks admire the waterfalls   alpine meadows relict forests and the majestic  mount rainier which casts a shadow on the clouds except for the unconditional  beauty of the surrounding nature   mystical phenomena and the possible catastrophic  consequences of the eruption of mount rainier   the park also boasts several interesting facts   for example the ice caves on the mountain are  similar in characteristic to conditions on mars since 2017 a team of scientists has been exploring  a network of caves and tunnels more than two miles   long and 465 feet deep in order to study the  tiny organisms that live in harsh environmental   conditions and feed on poisonous gases and compare  them with conditions similar to that on mars   also scientists have discovered rare wavy worms  that live in the mount rainier glaciers these   same worms reaching about an inch in length have  been found in alaska oregon and british columbia   but not in the rest of the world's glaciers these  invertebrates live peacefully in conditions of   external cold and get out to the surface only  in the morning hours to feed on the snow out mountaineering in mount rainier national  park does not only attract the young   strong and active athletes in 2002 a 77  year old woman conquered mount rainier   the oldest climber ever to  reach the top was 81 years old   another interesting fact on april 12 1951 u.s air  force lieutenant john hodgkin set the record by   landing his plane at the top of mount rainier  and even more interesting when hodgkin tried   to repeat his feet the plane simply refused  to take off the aircraft hovered at around 14   000 feet and the pilot had to spend the  night on the plane in sub-zero temperatures   the next morning without waiting  for a team of rescuers and rangers   hodgkin lowered his plane down  the nisqually glacier himself for the convenience of tourists there are  several tourist information centers in the park   sunrise in the northeast longmire in the valley of  the nisqually river and in the center of the park   the henry m jackson information center in paradise  there are many hiking trails in the park near one   of them bench lake archaeological teams found the  presence of people here more than 6 000 years ago mount rainier national park  is an amazing ecosystem   where seemingly incompatible representatives  of flora and fauna seasons scientifically   proven facts and features and even mystical  natural phenomena are harmoniously combined   the beauty of mount rainier is  difficult to describe in words because   it's impossible to fully convey the  colors smells and sensations you'll see   when you visit but mount rainier national park  should definitely be on your must visit list so you

Channel: 4K Relaxation Channel

Views: 88,619

Keywords: documentary film, full documentary, 4k relaxation channel, washington state, national park, mount rainier, narration, free documentary, nature documentary, mt rainier documentary, 4k film, scenic documentary, landscapes, rivers, waterfalls, volcano, mountain slopes, mount rainier interesting facts, mt rainier, washington, natural beauty, mount rainier history, pacific northwest, 4k documentary, 4k uhd, how old is mount rainier, mount rainier last eruption, 4k resolution

Id: kQY3fgSkVnI

Length: 40min 53sec (2453 seconds)

Published: Fri Jun 24 2022