Mt Rainier, Magnificent and Mysterious

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Mount Rainier, Magnificent and Mysterious ENG121: English Composition I Mount Rainier, Magnificent and Mysterious Mount Vesuvius destroyed Pompeii in a matter of hours. Millions of tons of rock and ash fell on the city. When things finally calmed down, Pompeii is buried under one to two feet of rock and the city is all but wiped from the face of the Earth (Tarshis, 2013). What would it have been like to live near Mount Vesuvius before it erupted? I believe it would have been magnificent. I have the distinct pleasure of living near Mount Rainier in Washington State. Mt. Rainier is an active volcano that could destroy the surrounding area with only a short notice. However, even with this ever-present danger there lies unparalleled beauty. I, along with millions of others, get to enjoy the allure of this majestic beast almost every day. The mountain can change an otherwise dull day into an enjoyable experience, with only an ever so short appearance, Mount Rainier is located about 40 miles east of Olympia, WA. It last erupted approximately 150 years ago (NPS, 2013). Thanks to modern technology the population living near this spectacular mountain can live in relative peace and safety. It remains covered in snow for the whole year, due to the fact that it is covered in glaciers. Its summit is 14,410 feet above sea level and it is the icon of the Washington landscape. It is such a fixture of the countryside, that it even makes an appearance on the state’s license plate. What makes the mountain so majestic and commanding is the fact that it stands about three miles higher than the surrounding lowlands. While the statistics are impressive, to the people who live near the peak, it can be mysterious, and obscure, almost spiritual. It will disappear at random, sometimes for days on end, if not a whole week. It hides behind clouds and rain showers like a
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