Park visitors often ask regarding the place of Mount Rainier among the world's greatest peaks. The diagram below will give one a general idea of the principal peaks of the earth in comparison with one another and it will be noted that Mount Rainier--as well as most North American peaks--is far below those of other parts of the world in elevation above sea level. It must be borne in mind, however, that elevation of mountains is measured from sea level and that the actual height above its immediate base is not considered in mountain heights. It is because of this fact that, although Mount Rainier ranks well down the list, this greatest of American volcanoes is much more prominent upon the horizon than many others which may be higher above the level of the sea. The summit of Rainier is approximately 11,000 feet above its base.

Mt. Everest (1) . . . Kanchehjunga . . . Kabru . . . Aconcagua (2) . . . Sorata . . . Chimboraze . . . Mt. McKinley (3) . . . Mt. Logan . . . Kilimanjaro . . . St. Elias . . . Popocateptl (4) . . . Dykhtau . . . Mt. Ararat . . . Ruwenzori (5) . . . Mt. Blanc . . . Mt. Whitney (6) . . . Mt. Elbert . . . Mt. Rainier (7) . . . Long's Peak . . . Mt. Shasta . . . Pike's Peak . . . Mauna Loa (8) . . . Fujiyama (9) . . . Mt. Hood (10) . . . Mt. Mitchell (11) . . . Mt. Washington (12) . . . Empire State Building . . . Eiffel Tower . . .

29,141. 28,225. 24,150. 22,834. 21,286. 20,702. 20,300. 19,850. 19,710. 18,008. 17,543. 17,054. 17,090. 16,794. 15,781. 14,496. 14,420. 14,408. 14,255. 14,161. 14,110. 12,675. 12,395. 11,225. 6,684. 6,288. 1,248. 1,000.

India. India. India. S. Amer. S. Amer. S. Amer. Alaska. Canada. Africa. Alaska. Mexico. Russia. Armenia. Africa. Alps. Calif. Colo. Wash. Colo. Calif. Colo. Hawaii. Japan. Oregon. N. Car. N. H. N.Y.C. Paris.