Volcanoes build up Washington state, and water tears it down. The biggest glaciated volcanoes can build a towering, apparently sculpted layer of rock and ice and appear permanent and immutable. But their surfaces wear ceaselessly from the grinding of ice and washing of rain. And occasionally, they explode. Other Pacific Northwest mountains do not intimidate with fire in their bellies and the potential to devastate, but silently form the spine of the Cascade and Olympic ranges, catching clouds as they pass by and creating microclimates and miniature habitats that host unique endemic species.
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