The catastrophic and deadly eruption of Mount St. Helens occurred on May 18, 1980, with a massive landslide and lateral blast destroying an area of 230 square miles in mere minutes.
The eruption resulted in 57 fatalities, including volcanologist David A. Johnston and photojournalist Reid Blackburn.
The devastating blast reduced the dense forest on the volcano's slopes to ash within the inner blast zone and caused damage even beyond.
Lahars, mudflows from volcanic eruptions, formed rapidly and caused further destruction to nearby communities.
Over the decades, the area affected by the 1980 eruption has slowly begun to rebound with new life.
Mount St. Helens remains an active and dangerous volcano, monitored closely by the Cascades Volcano Observatory.
Today, the volcano stands 8,366 feet high, significantly shorter than before the 1980 eruption, and is part of the Cascade Range in Washington.
Since 1980, Mount St. Helens has experienced periodic earthquakes and eruptions, though not as severe as the 1980 event.
The eruption had a lasting impact on the region, with memories of the tragedy still vivid after 45 years.
Despite the destruction, the area around Mount St. Helens has shown signs of regeneration and recovery over time.