After the May 18, 1980, eruption of Mount St. Helens, which killed 57 people, the state of Washington declared May Volcano Awareness Month in recognition of its impact.
The volcano did have a more recent eruption period from 2004-2008, though impacts to the landscape were minimal.
Since 1980, the landscapes around Mount St. Helens have continued to evolve.
On the north side of the volcano, the ecosystem continues to recover, while on the south side of the mountain, the landscape illustrates the stories of centuries past with lava flows and old-growth forest.
