Astronauts aboard the International Space Station (ISS) have captured images of Mount Hood and Mount Rainier, two prominent volcanoes in the Cascade Range, enveloped in a dense layer of smoke. This phenomenon was observed during the summer of 2026, when a wave of wildfires severely affected the Pacific Northwest region of the United States.

The photographs taken from Earth's orbit provide a unique perspective on the magnitude of smoke dispersion, which covered vast geographical areas, including these significant geological formations. Although the news focuses on the visual observation, it highlights the growing concern about the impact of large-scale wildfires on the environment and air quality in densely populated regions with sensitive ecosystems.