30 Years Ago: Mount St. Helens Erupted

Joel Kontinen


The recent eruption of Eyjafjallajökull in Iceland was a minor blast compared to what occurred in May 1980 when Mount St. Helens exploded.



The eruption of the snow-capped volcano in the state of Washington caused enormous destruction. Tens of people lost their lives.

The Mount St. Helens eruption indicated that thick sediment layers could form in almost no time. A single lava flow in June 1980 formed over 7.5 metres (25 feet) of sediment in just three hours. What is more, the layers look like they are millions of years old.

In addition, mud slides formed a huge canyon very rapidly. The Toutle River Canyon looks as if it is millions of years old but its real age is 30 years.

The eruption of Mount St. Helens reminds us what the Genesis Flood could do.


Sources:

Morris, John and Steven A. Austin. 2003. Footprints in the Ash. Green Forest: Master Books.

Snelling, Andrew A. 2010. Thirtieth Anniversary of a Geologic Catastrophe. (18 May.) http://www.answersingenesis.org/articles/2010/05/18/thirtieth-anniversary-of-geologic-catastrophe