- Hurricane Katrina was a devastating and deadly Category 5 Atlantic hurricane that caused 1,836 fatalities and damages estimated between $97.4 billion to $145.5 billion in late August 2005, particularly in the city of New Orleans and its surrounding area. At the time, it was the costliest tropical cyclone on record, later tied by Hurricane Harvey in 2017. Katrina was the twelfth tropical cyclone, the fifth hurricane, and the third major hurricane of the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season. It was also the fourth-most intense Atlantic hurricane to make landfall in the contiguous United States, gauged by barometric pressure.
- Twin Sisters (wa100.dnr.wa.gov)
Wouldn’t it be cool to have a view deep into the Earth? Or should we say it would be hot? Luckily, you don’t need to make a journey to the center of the earth to look at or even touch a piece of Earth’s mantle. Visit the craggy peaks of the Twin Sisters massif and you will see a relatively rare type of mantle rock known as dunite. Hundreds of geologists have studied these rocks in order to untangle their mysteries. Of course, geology is not the only reason to visit the Twin Sisters. In winter, find snow-dotted peaks nestled against a backdrop of forested hills and pastures. In summer, the deep orange to brown shades of the iron-rich ridgeline provide clues about the geologic origins of these mountains. Catch some great mountain sunsets from the valley or hike up the backside of the mountain to the Park Butte lookout for unobstructed views of Mount Baker and Twin Sisters.