Mount St. Helens erupted on May 18, 1980. The explosion was tremendous, equivalent to 500 atomic bombs of the type dropped on Hiroshima.The mountain is located in the state of Washington in the United States. It is a part of the Cascade mountain
range, a group of subduction volcanoes. The Cascades enter California on the South, and continue into Washington. The USGS Volcano Hazards Program received a boost as the result of the Mt. St. Helens explosion. Scientists now know considerably more about volcanoes as a result of
research conducted at the Cascades Volcano Observatory in Vancouver, Washington.Ecologists have also learned a great deal from studying the area near Mt. St. Helens. For example about how the natural ecosystems react to a volcanic eruption.Large areas previously disturbed by human inhabitants can regain their natural state after an eruption. Regions can recover their biodiversity and the
ecosystem that previously prevailed can return. The public has also become more worried by the threat of a volcanic explosion. Large mountains covered with snow are extremely dangerous, because the snow can easily melt and cause great amounts of mud to gush down from the mountain. These mudslides can create dams that in later years will not be strong enough to stand, causing problems long after the initial eruption.
The Mt. St. Helens eruption provided an opportunity for scientists from several fields to increase their knowledge and improve their theories. Mount St. Helens Adventure TourNational volcanic monument
Video of the mountainVolcanoCam of Mount St. Helens | 
