The North Cascades, home to rugged mountains, alpine lakes, and glaciers, could also be referred to as the Cascades Range, or simply the Cascades. Another term that aptly describes the wilderness area is the North Cascades National Park Complex, which encompasses over 500,000 acres of land. The region is also colloquially known as the American Alps, due to the towering peaks that soar above 8,000 feet. A more specific description of the area might include terms like the Ross Lake National Recreation Area, the Lake Chelan National Recreation Area, or the Stephen Mather Wilderness, which are all parts of the North Cascades region. However, regardless of what name it goes by, the North Cascades remains a breathtakingly beautiful part of the Pacific Northwest.