Mount St. Helens, Washington May 18, 1980 Devastation 1980 - 2004
click on thumbnail for "user-friendly" medium-size image ... medium-size images are around 100 K and best for web viewing ... large-size images are 4-5 M, scanned images, no logo, 300 dpi, 8x10 to 9x12 size, and good for printing and publication ...
Go To: "Mount St. Helens - Before, During, and After May 18, 1980" "Mount St. Helens - 2004 to Current"
May 18, 1980, Devastation
	MSH80_debris_avalanche_begin_mudflow_05-18-80.jpg Mount St. Helens May 18, 1980 debris avalanche, with the beginnings of the mudflow heading down the North Fork Toutle River Valley. The mudflow took 12 hours to reach the Cowlitz River. USGS Photograph taken on May 18, 1980, by Harry Glicken. [medium size] ... [large size] ... [TIF Format, 24 M]
	MSH80_spirit_lake_pumice_plain_phreatic_explosions_05-29-80.jpg Spirit Lake, Pumice Plain, and phreatic explosions, soon after the May 18, 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens. USGS Photograph taken on May 29, 1980, by Dan Dzurision. [medium size] ... [large size] ... [TIF Format, 18 M]
	MSH80_st_helens_pumice_plain_from_NNW_09-08-80.jpg Mount St. Helens and the Pumice Plain as seen from the north-northwest. Spirit Lake is just visible, lower left. USGS Photograph taken on September 8, 1980, by Harry Glicken. [medium size] ... [large size] ... [TIF Format, 24 M]
	MSH80_st_helens_debris_avalanche_helicopter_09-16-80.jpg After the May 18, 1980 eruption, Mount St. Helens' elevation was only 8,364 feet (2,550 meters) and the volcano had a one-mile-wide (1.5 kilometers) horseshoe-shaped crater. View here is from the northwest. Pits in the foreground are phreatic explosion pits within the debris avalanche. USGS Photograph taken on September 16, 1980, by Tom Casadevall. [medium size] ... [large size]
	MSH80_pumice_plain_phreatic_explosion_pit_09-30-80.jpg Phreatic explosion pit located on the Pumice Plain. USGS Photograph taken on September 30, 1980, by Lyn Topinka. [medium size] ... [large size] ... [TIF Format, 24M]
	MSH80_blast_area_spirit_lake_with_rainier_10-04-80.jpg Spirit Lake, once surrounded by lush forest, is within the area devastated by blast. Remnants of the forest float on the surface of the lake. Another Cascade volcano, Mount Rainier (14,410 feet [4,392 meters]), is in the distance. The view is from the south. USGS Photograph taken on October 4, 1980, by Lyn Topinka. [medium size] ... [large size] ... [TIF Format, 18 M]
	MSH80_aerial_harrys_ridge_09-30-80.jpg Harrys Ridge, five miles north of Mount St. Helens' crater was within the blast zone. The view is from the southeast. USGS Photograph taken on September 30, 1980, by Lyn Topinka. [medium size] ... [large size] ... [TIF Format, 25 M]
	MSH80_mount_st_helens_harrys_ridge_09-30-80.jpg Aerial view of Mount St. Helens volcano, with Harrys Ridge in the foreground. USGS Photograph taken September 30, 1980, by Lyn Topinka. [medium size] ... [large size] ... [TIF Format, 25 M] [Click for more Harrys Ridge images]
	MSH83_debris_avalanche_looking_downstream_10-05-83.jpg Downstream view of the North Fork Toutle River valley, north and west of St. Helens, shows part of the nearly 2/3 cubic miles (2.3 cubic kilometers) of debris avalanche that slid from the volcano on May 18, 1980. This is enough material to cover Washington, D.C. to a depth of 14 feet (4 meters). The avalanche traveled approximately 15 miles (24 kilometers) downstream at a velocity exceeding 150 miles per hour (240 km/hr). It left behind a hummocky deposit with an average thickness of 150 feet (45 meters) and a maximum thickness of 600 feet (180 meters). USGS Photograph taken on October 5, 1983, by Lyn Topinka. [medium size] ... [large size] ... [TIF Format, 21 M]
	MSH83_debris_avalanche_north_fork_toutle_11-30-83.jpg Downstream view of the North Fork Toutle River valley, north and west of St. Helens, shows part of the nearly 2/3 cubic miles (2.3 cubic kilometers) of debris avalanche that slid from the volcano on May 18, 1980. This is enough material to cover Washington, D.C. to a depth of 14 feet (4 meters). The avalanche traveled approximately 15 miles (24 kilometers) downstream at a velocity exceeding 150 miles per hour (240 km/hr). It left behind a hummocky deposit with an average thickness of 150 feet (45 meters) and a maximum thickness of 600 feet (180 meters). USGS Photograph taken on November 30, 1983, by Lyn Topinka. [medium size] ... [large size]
	MSH84_castle_lake_debris_avalanche_march_1984.jpg The May 18, 1980 debris avalanche from Mount St. Helens covered over 24 square miles (62 square kilometers) of the upper Toutle River valley and blocked tributaries of the North Fork Toutle River. New lakes such as Castle Lake (pictured here) and Coldwater Lake were created. USGS Photograph taken in March 1984 by Robert L. Schuster. [medium size] ... [large size]
	MSH84_debris_avalanche_coldwater_lake_01-13-84.jpg Debris Avalanche, looking at Coldwater Lake. USGS Photograph taken in January 13, 1984, by Lyn Topinka. [medium size] ... [large size]
	MSH81_debris_aval_colorful_ponds_08-04-81.jpg Colorful ponds on the debris avalanche. USGS Photograph taken in August 8, 1981, by Lyn Topinka. [medium size] ... [large size] ... [TIF Format, 25 M]
	MSH80_reid_blackburn_car_05-31-80.jpg Reid Blackburn's car, located approximately 10 miles from Mount St. Helens. Reid was a photographer for National Geographic as well as the Vancouver's Columbian newspaper. USGS Photograph taken on May 31, 1980, by Dan Dzurisin. [medium size] ... [large size]
	MSH80_volcanic_ash_with_helicopter_08-22-80.jpg For weeks volcanic ash covered the landscape around the volcano and for several hundred miles downwind to the east. Noticeable ash fell in eleven states. The total volume of ash (before its compaction by rainfall) was approximately 0.26 cubic mile (1.01 cubic kilometers), or, enough ash to cover a football field to a depth of 150 miles (240 kilometers). In this photograph, a helicopter stirs up ash while trying to land in the devastated area. USGS Photograph taken on August 22, 1980, by Lyn Topinka. [medium size] ... [large size] ... [TIF Format, 18 M]
	MSH80_may18_ash_road_connell_washington_06-80.jpg May 18, 1980 ash along the roadside, Connell, Washington. USGS Photograph taken in June 1980 by Lyn Topinka. [medium size] ... [large size] ... [TIF Format, 22 M]
	MSH80_may18_ash_connell_washington_06-80.jpg May 18, 1980 ash, Connell, Washington. USGS Photograph taken in June 1980 by Lyn Topinka. [medium size] ... [large size] ... [TIF Format, 18 M]
	MSH80_volcanic_ash_collected_near_randle_1980s.jpg Volcanic ash collected in Randle, Washington, located about 40 km NNE of Mount St. Helens. The north edge of the May 18, 1980, eruption cloud passed over Randle and deposited between 1 and 2 centimeters of ash on the community. USGS Photograph taken by David Wieprecht. [medium size] ... [large size] ... [TIF Image, 18 M]
	MSH80_blowdown_with_st_helens_05-19-80.jpg Day after the May 18, 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens. View of denuded slope and blowdown timber, with a still steaming Mount St. Helens in the background. USGS Photograph taken on May 19, 1980, by Peter Lipman. [medium size] ... [large size] ... [TIF Format, 24 M]
	MSH80_aerial_blowdown_fawn_lake_10-28-80.jpg Aerial view, blowdown and Fawn Lake. Note Mount St. Helens in the background. Note too USGS scientists in small boat on the lake taking water samples. USGS Photograph taken on October 28, 1980, by Lyn Topinka. [medium size] ... [large size]
	MSH80_blowdown_elk_rock_08-22-80.jpg Blowdown, Elk Rock, with singed area on left. USGS Photograph taken on August 22, 1980, by Lyn Topinka. [medium size] ... [large size] ... [TIF Format, 25 M]
	MSH80_blowdown_singe_08-22-80.jpg Blowdown in the North Fork Toutle drainage, with singed area on left. USGS Photograph taken on August 22, 1980, by Lyn Topinka. [medium size] ... [large size] ... [TIF Format, 24 M]
	MSH81_blowdown_singe_SFToutle_08-14-81.jpg Blowdown in the South Fork Toutle drainage, with singed area in middle. Note green of new plants growing. USGS Photograph taken on August 14, 1981, by Lyn Topinka. [medium size] ... [large size] ... [TIF Format, 24 M]
	MSH80_blowdown_smith_creek_09-24-80.jpg The slopes of Smith Creek valley, east of Mount St. Helens, show trees blown down by the May 18, 1980 lateral blast. Two U.S. Geological Survey scientists (lower right) give scale. The direction of the blast, shown here from left to right, is apparent in the alignment of the downed trees. Over four billion board feet of usable timber, enough to build 150,000 homes, was damaged or destroyed. USGS Photograph taken on September 24, 1980, by Lyn Topinka. [medium size] ... [large size] ... [TIF Format, 18 M]
	MSH80_shoestring_glacier_from_upper_muddy_09-17-80.jpg Shoestring Glacier was beheaded on May 18, 1980, and the Upper Muddy drainage, once covered with forest, was destroyed. USGS Photograph taken on September 17, 1980, by Lyn Topinka. [medium size] ... [large size]
	MSH80_shoestring_glacier_SE_side_lahar_10-80.jpg Shoestring Glacier was beheaded on May 18, 1980, and the Upper Muddy drainage, once covered with forest, was destroyed. USGS Photograph taken on October 1980, by Lyn Topinka. [medium size] ... [large size] ... [TIF Format, 24 M]
	MSH80_pine_creek_cross_section_10-09-80.jpg USGS hydrologist on rod at cross section along Pine Creek. USGS Photograph taken on October 9, 1980, by Lyn Topinka. [medium size] ... [large size] ... [TIF Format, 24 M]
	MSH80_muddy_bridge_devastation_09-23-80.jpg Remains of the bridge crossing the Muddy River. USGS Photograph taken on September 23, 1980, by Lyn Topinka. [medium size] ... [large size] ... [TIF Format, 25 M]
	MSH80_destroyed_muddy_bridge_remnant_09-23-80.jpg Remains of the bridge crossing the Muddy River. USGS Photograph taken on September 23, 1980, by Lyn Topinka. [medium size] ... [large size] ... [TIF Format, 15 M]
	MSH80_pine_creek_bridge_remnant_10-24-80.jpg Remains of the bridge crossing the Pine Creek. Note USGS Hydrologist holding rod for cross section survey. USGS Photograph taken on October 24, 1980, by Lyn Topinka. [medium size] ... [large size] ... [TIF Format, 25 M]
	MSH80_boulder_left_by_lahar_muddy_river_09-16-80.jpg Large boulder left by the May 18, 1980 mudflows, Muddy River. USGS Photograph taken on September 16, 1980, by Lyn Topinka. [medium size] ... [large size] ... [TIF Format, 15 M]
	MSH80_mudline_muddy_river_10-23-80.jpg Nearly 135 miles (220 kilometers) of river channels surrounding the volcano were affected by the lahars of May 18, 1980. A mudline left behind on trees shows depths reached by the mud. A scientist (middle right) gives scale. This view is along the Muddy River, southeast of Mount St. Helens. USGS Photograph taken on October 23, 1980, by Lyn Topinka. [medium size] ... [large size]
	MSH80_mudline_muddy_river_with_USGS_scientist_10-23-80.jpg Nearly 135 miles (220 kilometers) of river channels surrounding the volcano were affected by the lahars of May 18, 1980. A mudline left behind on trees shows depths reached by the mud. A scientist (middle right) gives scale. This view is along the Muddy River, southeast of Mount St. Helens. USGS Photograph taken on October 23, 1980, by Lyn Topinka. [medium size] ... [large size]
	MSH80_bayonet_trees_from_may_18_lahar_10-23-80.jpg "Bayonet trees", stripped of bark and vegetation, show direction the May 18, 1980, lahar traveled. USGS Photograph taken on October 23, 1980, by Lyn Topinka. [medium size] ... [large size] ... [TIF Format, 15 M]
	MSH80_mudflow_toutle_river_bridge_07-01-80.jpg May 18, 1980 lahar covering highway at the Toutle River. The bridge was wiped out. USGS Photograph taken July 1, 1980, by Lyn Topinka. [medium size] ... [large size] ... [TIF Format, 25 M]
	MSH80_may18_lahar_toutle_river_I-5_bridge_07-06-80.jpg Toutle River, looking downstream towards the Interstate 5 bridge, from Old Pacific Highway bridge. USGS Photograph taken July 6, 1980, by Lyn Topinka. [medium size] ... [large size] ... [TIF Format, 24 M] ...
	MSH80_mudline_near_toutle_river_bridge_summer_1980.jpg U.S. Geological Survey hyrologist (who is 6 feet tall) examines mudline left behind from the May 18, 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens. Area is near the "Old Highway 99" bridge across the Toutle River, as the Toutle enters the Cowlitz River. USGS Photograph taken in the summer, 1980, by Lyn Topinka. [medium size] ... [large size]
	MSH80_devastation_log_camp_south_fork_toutle_05-19-80.jpg Log camp on the South Fork Toutle River, destroyed from the May 18, 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens. USGS Photograph taken on May 19, 1980, by Phil Carpenter. [medium size] ... [large size]
	MSH81_house_on_NFToutle_near_tower_road_03-26-81.jpg Home damaged by the May 18, 1980 mudflow, located on the North Fort Toutle River near Tower Road. USGS Photograph taken on July 16, 1980, by Lyn Topinka. [medium size] ... [large size] ... [TIF Format, 24 M]
	MSH80_red_house_in_mud_07-16-80.jpg More than 200 homes and over 185 miles (300 kilometers) of roads were destroyed by the 1980 lahars. USGS Photograph taken on July 16, 1980, by Lyn Topinka. [medium size] ... [large size] ... [TIF Format, 25 M]
	MSH81_damaged_home_south_fork_toutle_river_07-19-81.jpg More than 200 homes and over 185 miles (300 kilometers) of roads were destroyed by the 1980 lahars. Pictured here is a damaged home along the South Fork Toutle River. USGS Photograph taken on July 19, 1981, by Lyn Topinka. [medium size] ... [large size]
	MSH80_may_18_mudflow_doorknob_07-15-80.jpg More than 200 homes and over 185 miles (300 kilometers) of roads were destroyed by the 1980 lahars. USGS Photograph taken on July 15, 1980, by Lyn Topinka. [medium size] ... [large size]
	MSH80_barn_15_feet_of_mud_07-15-80.jpg Fifteen feet of mud !!! USGS Photograph taken on July 15, 1980, by Lyn Topinka. [medium size] ... [large size] ... [TIF Format, 15 M]
	MSH80_house_devastated_by_lahar_07-15-80.jpg House devastated by May 18, 1980 mudflow. USGS Photograph taken in the July 15, 1980, by Lyn Topinka. [medium size] ... [large size] ... [TIF Format, 18 M]
	MSH80_may_18_mudflow_garage_07-15-80.jpg Garage devastated by May 18, 1980 mudflow. USGS Photograph taken in the July 15, 1980, by Lyn Topinka. [medium size] ... [large size]
	MSH80_mailboxes_along_cowlitz_river_1980.jpg Mailboxes in the mudflow along the Cowlitz River. USGS Photograph taken in July 1980 by Lyn Topinka. [medium size] ... [large size] ... [large size in black/white] ...

Return to:
[Mount St. Helens Photo Archives Menu] ...
[Mount St. Helens Menu] ...
[Photo Archives Menu]

Use of CVO Material