#34: Mount St. Helens Eruption

Mount St. Helens erupted on May 18, 1980, in the state of Washington. The volcanic explosion caused 57 deaths and had people riveted to the news with fear and fascination. According to the United States Geological Survey, Mount St. Helen’s erupted with ash for over nine hours after a series of small earthquakes occurred over the course of two months. 

Many people witnessed and documented this terrifying eruption. These incredibly ominous photographs were taken by hikers who climbed nearby Mount Adams. They were able to capture the breadth of St. Helens’ destruction from their vantage point. These photos are awe-inspiring and terrifying to look at, so we can only imagine how this hiker must have felt to witness it in person.