No one ever imagined that Mt. St. Helens was alive, until May 18, 1980. At 8:32 an earthquake triggered an avalanche that tore open the volcano and let a searing blast of steam and rock out of the volcano. Water can't be heated over 212 degrees Fahrenheit or it will turn to steam. If it is under pressure then it won't turn to steam. If pressure is released water will turn or flash to steam. This can cause an explosion. The earth crumbled and gave way. Hot ash and dirt exploded out of the mountain. The force was so strong it was like an atomic bomb. The shock wave of this explosion knocked down all the trees and left a devastated land that used to be lush and full of life. The violence of Mt. St. Helens was so titanic that the top of the mountain was blown off and a cloud of ash and gas was sent 12 miles high into the air. The blast killed 57 people and destroyed all plants in 70 miles. The mountain stood  9,677 feet before the blast and now stands 8,364. The blast was so big it reached 46,000 high and ash was found all the way in Montana. Once the steam disappeared there was a crater 2,000 feet long 1,500 feet wide and 500 feet deep.

    Mt. St. Helens was a tragedy in history, but now Mt. St. Helens and the rest of the volcanoes are a lot more carefully watched.

    Mt. St. Helens was the most devastating eruption in Washington. The eruption destroyed hundreds of lush green trees and grass. Spirit Lake was a beautiful lake that reflected the snow capped Mt. St. Helens, with birds flying everywhere until the pressure built up to much and the mountain couldn't hold the lava in anymore. It just blew its top and extreme amounts of pressure exploded out.

    The actual eruption lasted nine hours. An earthquake with a magnitude of 5.1 struck below Mt. St. Helens and triggered its eruption. Mt. St. Helens is a composite which means they are formed by hot broken rock, ash,  and lava.

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