THE WORLD'S PRINCIPAL PEAKS.

The high mountains have always been a source of interest to everyone and their lofty summits the goal of intrepid climbers. Mount Rainier, while being far from the world's highest mountain, ranks among the world's major peaks because of its huge bulk that portrays a very interesting chapter in the study of the vulcanism and the great glaciers that clothe its sides.

Among the mountains of our own country Rainier takes third place -- being exceeded by Mt. Whitney of California and Mt. Elbert of Colorado. These mountains are but a few feet higher and are part of mountain ranges, the former being included in the Sierra Nevada Range while the Rocky Mts. claim the latter. Consequently their prominence is minimized by the proximity of many other peaks in the range that are themselves sizeable mountains and all of which rise from a comparatively high plateau. The natural peak rises but a short distance above its surrounding plain. Mount Rainier, on the other hand, stands apart from the Cascade Range and rises approximately 11,000 feet above its immediate base to a total elevation above sea level of 14,408 feet.

The elevations of the world's great mountains are as follows:

There are but a few of the best known peaks and give some idea of the comparative heights of ranges in all parts of the world.