In the early morning hours of May 18, 1980, the pristine scenery around Washington's Mount St. Helens was shattered by a powerful explosion that devastated its north slope. In the aftermath, amid the rivers of mud, blankets of ash, and eerie quiet, a "startling" discovery was made: the evidence that many of the geological formations we see were caused by catastrophe - not millions of years of erosion. Mount St. Helens became a living laboratory as scientists studied the aftermath of the explosion and the changes it made to the surroundings in a very, very short time. 127 pages of stunning photography and revealing information. 127 pages, hardback, 7 1/4"x9 1/4".