One mountain. Two very different heights.
Which height do you mean?
Mount Rainier's elevation and its local relief tell different stories.
4,392 m elevation · nearly 4.8 km above the western lowlands · ≈2.4 km above surrounding mountains
Elevation and relief answer different questions from different reference points.
Depends on the measurement reference
Why this is interesting
USGS gives Mount Rainier a summit elevation of 4,392 m. It also says the mountain stands nearly 4.8 km above the lowlands to the west, and about 2.4 km above the surrounding mountains.
Three numbers, one mountain — because they're measured against different things.
How this measurement works
Elevation measures a summit against a sea-level reference.
Relief describes how dramatically terrain rises compared with the landscape around it. The answer depends on which surrounding terrain you choose: the western lowlands or the neighbouring peaks.
They're different measurements, so they shouldn't be expected to give the same number.
How certain is this?
Authoritative topographic reference · relief depends on chosen surrounding terrain. All three figures are from USGS.
Local relief is not summit elevation; both are preserved as separate measurement properties.
Sources & further reading
USGS
Mount Rainier(opens external site)USGS
Mount Rainier National Park(opens external site)4,392 m; nearly 4.8 km above lowlands to the west; 2.4 km above surrounding mountains
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