Bibliography

Bibliography:

Lauber, Patricia. Volcano- the Eruption and Healing of Mt. St

Helens. New York: Simon & Schuster Children's Division, 1986

"Native American Myths" June 3, 2008

"St. Helens" June 4, 2008 

The 1980 explosion

"I immediately thought, 'Oh my, you expect volcanoes to erupt, but you don't expect mountains to fall apart,'" Dorothy Stoffel said. "I immediately recognized this was going to be a huge event."

On May 18, 1980, Mt. St. Helens had it's most famous eruption, when it blew off a huge chunk of the mountain off! Not only that but it blew an ash cloud 63,000 ft. and across many states covering every thing with ash.

Unfortunately, the eruption started forest fires and melted snow, which caused floods and mudslides and washed away buildings, roads, bridges and flattened many trees. 

It also killed about 57 people and 21 bodies were never recovered from the blast zone. Some were buried to death by, ash, mud, or by falling trees.    

But, on the plus side, volcanoes give us geothermal energy, valuable minerals, fertile soil and recreation opportunities.

Mt. St. Helens Myth

This is a Native American myth from the Yakima tribe about how Mt. St. Helens came to be and why it's there.

"Si Yett, meaning woman, is the Yakima Indian name for Mount St. Helens. According to legend, Si Yett was a beautiful white maiden placed on earth by the Great Spirit to protect the Bridge of the Gods on the Columbia River from the battling brothers, Mount Adams and Mount Hood."

Basic Facts

Basic Facts:

• Mt. St. Helens is currently active. It's been active from 2004-2008 (continuing).
• Mt. St. Helens is located in Washionton, USA, 95 miles south of Seattle (population 563,374). 
  
• The most famous eruption was on May 18, 1980, when it blew ashes across the US (see ash fallout map) and it blew a side of the volcano off!
  
• The elevation after the eruption is 8,364 ft.
• Mt. St. Helens is a strato volcano.
  
• Mt. St. Helens was named by George Vancouver, but before that, nearby Indians knew the mountain either by "Loo-Wit" (which means a mountain that was given beauty by sprits) or as "Tah-one-lay-clak" (which means fire mountain).