In 1980, a major volcanic eruption occurred at Mount St. Helens, a volcano located in state of Washington, in the United States.. (Photo by: Photo12/Universal Images Group via Getty Images) (Original Caption) 7/23/1980-Spirit Lake, WA- Looking more like a smoke cloud from an A-bomb blast than steam and ash from a volcano eruption, Mt. St. Helens sent this plume of steam and ash some 60,000 feet in the air, as the volcano awoke from a six-week nap. Rick Cole, director of emergency services for Yakima, wears a mask as he uses a snow brush to brush volcanic ash off of his auto's windshield. The white spots in photo are more ash particles falling. Yakima was hit the hardest as over four inches of dust fell on the city. An aerial view of the Mount Saint Helens crater and Mount Adams in the distance, after the 1980 eruption. (Photo by © Gary Braasch/CORBIS/Corbis via Getty Images) Ash covers what is left of a forest following the eruption of Mount St. Helens. | Location: Washington, USA. (Photo by Jim Sugar/Corbis via Getty Images) (Original Caption) 5/29/1980-Mount St. Helens, WA: An army helicopter crewman takes a last look at the desolation caused by the Mount St. Helens volcanic explosion 5/18 as it was announced that aerial searches for bodies are being suspended 5/29. Ground searches will continue for the 71 persons still missing in the explosion area. 21 persons are confirmed dead in the massive volcanic explosion. UPI cas/Ron Edmonds 360998 22: A flood partially submerges a house May 23, 1980 in Washington State. On May 18, 1980, an earthquake caused a landslide on Mount St. Helens'' north face, taking off the top of the mountain and triggering an eruption that killed 57 people, wiped out river valleys and destroyed enough trees to build 300,000 homes. (Photo by John Barr/Liaison) These State Police cars look like something from the moon as they are equipped with homemade air breathing devices to prevent volcanic ash from entering the engines. The vent tubes run from the engine to the interior of the auto where the air is at least 60 percent cleaner than it is outside. Thereby causing as little damage to the engines as possible, they hope. The volcanic ash started falling when Mt. St. Helens had a gigantic eruption on May 18, 1980, spreading across the country. 360995 06: A cloud of ash covers a mountaintop May 22, 1980 in Washington State. On May 18, 1980, an earthquake caused a landslide on Mount St. Helens'' north face, taking off the top of the mountain and triggering an eruption that killed 57 people, wiped out river valleys and destroyed enough trees to build 300,000 homes. (Photo by John Barr/Liaison) 1980s Smoking Horseshoe-Shaped Crater Top Of Mount Saint Helens After A Major Eruption May 18 1980 Washington USA . (Photo by R. Lamb/ClassicStock/Getty Images) Forty-two years ago, Mount St. Helens in southwest Washington state erupted, killing 57 people. The blast sent more than 1,300 feet off the top and raining volcanic ash for miles around.
Within minutes of a 5.1 earthquake that hit at 8:32 a.m. on May 18, 1980, the volcano’s north flank collapsed, triggering the largest landslide in recorded history.
That set off powerful explosions that sent ash, steam, rocks and volcanic gas upward and outward.
The lateral blast scorched and flattened about 230 square miles of dense forest.
Soon after, a plume of volcanic ash rose over 80,000 feet and rained down as far as 250 miles away in Spokane.
RELATED: Scientists seek new monitoring systems as Snohomish County volcano is at 'very high' threat of eruption
Pushed by winds over the next few days, the ash cloud traveled east across the U.S. and encircled the globe in 15 days.
The eruption blew about 1,314 feet off the volcano and created a horseshoe-shaped crater in the mountain, which now stands at 8,363 feet.
Loading Video…
This browser does not support the Video element.
Today, the volcano has become a world-class outdoor laboratory for the study of volcanoes, ecosystems and forestry, as well as a major recreational and tourist destination.