VOLCANOES

Mount Saint Helens is a volcano located in southwestern Washington. It is 8,363 feet tall. Geologists say that Mount St. (Saint) Helens is a stratovolcano, also known as a composite volcano. Stratovolcano is a volcano that is built upward because of layers of hardened volcanic ash, lava, and other volcanic debris. These kinds of volcanoes are distinguished by their steep sides. They often erupt extremely explosively, putting people and properties nearby at risk.

The present-day name, Mount Saint Helens, was received in 1792 by a man named George Vancouver. He was captain of the British Royal Navy, at the time. The name was given in honor of the British Ambassador of Spain, Alleyne Fitzherbert, who had the title Baron St. Helens. Three other mountains in the Cascade Rage were also named by George Vancouver. He had named them after other British naval officers. They are Mount Baker, Mount Hood, and Mount Rainer.

Many Indian legends were passed down from generation to generation on how Mount Saint Helens could have possibly gotten its name. Before the volcano perilously exploded, it was beautiful. It was a symmetric, rounded mountain that was between the peaks Mt. (Mount) Hood (Wyeast) and Mt. Adams (Klickitat). They were known as two extremely powerful peaks. Per one of many Indian legends, Mt. St. Helens was, at one point, a gorgeous woman with them name Loowit. The Great Spirit “Sahale” had two sons that had fallen in a deep love with her. Loowit, although, could not choose which one she had loved more. The two men decided to fight over her. Putting many villages in danger and they wound up burying those villages in the process. This had made their father, Sahale, furious with them. He decided to punish all three lovers and creat...

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...temper, and problems sleeping.

IV. RECOVERY

It has been over 30 years since the explosion on May 18. Citizens living in southwestern Washington have recovered most of the land that was destroyed. They cleared out most of the trees that were burnt down and started planting new ones. The improvement of the amount of plants that were growing back partially depended on other nearby ecosystems. Elevation was also a major effect on plant and forest recovery. The amount of animals has started to multiply now that they have a habitat to live in.

The residents that have suffered from PTSD had to go to therapy to recover correctly. Their depression and temper symptoms got better with time and help. These people try to avoid any situations that will trigger thoughts or memories of the traumatic event that caused them to suffer. People are still recovering from this disaster.