Mount Saint Helens

Mount Saint Helens is a famous volcano in the state of Washington. Before 1980, it looked like a tall, pointy snow-capped mountain. Then it had a huge eruption that blew off the top. Today, the mountain is much shorter and has a big crater on top.

The Big Eruption

On May 18, 1980, Mount Saint Helens erupted with a giant blast. The whole north side of the mountain fell away. Hot ash and rocks shot into the sky. Trees for miles around were knocked down like toothpicks. It was one of the biggest volcano eruptions in United States history.

Coming Back to Life

After the eruption, the land around the mountain looked empty and gray. But slowly, plants and animals came back. Flowers started growing in the ash. Elk, birds, and small animals moved back in. Scientists watch the mountain closely and learn a lot about how nature heals after a big event.

Fun Facts

• Mount Saint Helens lost about 1,300 feet of its height in the 1980 eruption.
• The crater at the top is about 1 mile wide.
• The volcano is still active and could erupt again.

Did You Know?

After the 1980 eruption, a small new dome of lava began to slowly grow inside the crater of Mount Saint Helens.