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MOUNT RAINIER NATURE NOTES
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| Vol. II |
October-December 1987 |
No. 14 |
INTERNATIONAL PARK SUBMITING
The new open communications with the Soviet Union through "Summiting"
could be extended to national parks. If Mount Rainier National Park were
to hook up with its Soviet counterpart, it would likely be Caucasus
Mountains State Reserve. A comparison to Mount Rainier National Park
yields both differences and similarities.
| Mount Rainier National Park |
Caucasus State Reserve |
| Geology: |
Volcanic Andesite |
Metamorphic Rocks |
| Size: | 96,793 hectares |
266,000 hectares |
| Highest Summit: |
Columbia Crest 4,380 meters |
Mt. Elbrus 5,633 meters |
| Flora: |
Fir, Cedar, and Hemlock Forests |
Beech, Spruce, and Pine Forests |
| Mammals: |
Mountain Goat, Mule Deer, Elk, Cougar, Bobcat, Bear,
Raccoon, Coyote, Red Fox, Marten, Weasel, Beaver, Porcupine, Marmot, Pika,
Chickaree, Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel, Flying Squirrel, Chipmunk,
Snowshoe Hare, and many smaller species. |
Bear, Wildcat, Lynx, Roe Deer, Wild Boar, Tur, Chamois,
Red Deer, Wolf, Marten, and Squirrel. The European Bison was exterminated
in 1925, but has been reintroduced to the area. |
| Birds: |
Mountain Bluebird, Clark's Nutcracker, Thrushes, Kinglet,
Chickadees, Nuthatch, Ptarmigan, Grouse, Finches, Grosbeaks,
Gray Jay, Steller's Jay, and many other species not often observed. |
Snow Partridge and Georgian Black Grouse are found only in the
Caucasus Mts. Also found are Dwarf Serin, Guldenstadt's Redstart, Ring
Ouzel, Goldfinch, Coal Tit, Wall Creeper, Siskin, Chaffinch, Linnet,
Twite, Rock Pipit, Chough, and Alpine Accentor, Vultures, Buzzards,
Sparrows, Eagles, and Lammergeiers are native to the Caucasus Mts. |
Lynn Arthur
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