Did the lava from the 1980 Mt. St. Helens eruption, form a canyon? I have seen
tour packages advertising the "mini Grand Canyon", but I am unable to find any
reliable references. Where can I get information on lava-formed canyons?
S.T. Zochowski
Dear S.T.,
No, the Mt. St. Helens lava did not come form a canyon. I think the tour
package you saw was suffereing from the affliction that almost all tour
companies seem to have, sometimes stated as "nevermind the truth". The
big 1980 eruption resulted in the north side of the volcano collapsing to
form a large amphitheater-like caldera with a relatively flat floor and
steep walls. Perhaps if you were down in the thing it might seem like
being in a canyon, but it isn't a canyon.
Scott Rowland, University of Hawaii
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