Cascade Mountains

Cascade Mountains, a range of mountains upon the Pacific coast of North America, nearly parallel with the coast, and continuing the line of the Sierra Nevada of California, through Oregon and Washington territory, and joining the Rocky Mountains in the north, in the territory of British Columbia. The cascades from which the chain takes its name are caused by the river Columbia, which breaks through the range, and descends in numerous waterfalls. The principal heights of the range are Mount Hood (14,000 ft.) and Mount Jefferson, slightly lower, and the volcanic peak, Mount Helen (12,000 ft.), and others.