🌍 where

Where did the 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens cause its biggest blast zone?

Quick Answer

The eruption devastated the north side of Mount St. Helens in Washington, USA. The summit collapsed and a huge lateral blast swept through the surrounding forest.

The Full Story

Mount St. Helens is in southwestern Washington state, in the Cascade Range. On 18 May 1980, a magnitude 5.1 earthquake triggered a massive landslide, followed by a sideways explosion that blew out the volcano’s north flank. The blast flattened forests across a wide area and sent ash across much of North America. The eruption remains one of the best-studied volcanic disasters in modern history.

Key Facts

1.Erupted on 18 May 1980
2.North flank collapsed in a giant landslide
3.Ash spread across large parts of North America

YouTube Angle

Suggested video title for this topic:

"The volcano that exploded sideways"

Was this answer helpful?

Tap a reaction — it helps us pick what to cover next.