How long did it take to recover from the mount Saint Helens?

Nicole

Hi Nicole,

It depends on what and where you are talking about. For example, there are many places on Mt. St. Helens that today still look as bleak as the days after the big eruption. These tend to be the locations closer to the volcano. On the other hand there are areas that were covered by quite thick blankets of ash and debris where the plants have come back to the point that you could be plunked down in the middle of the forest and not know that something dramatic had even happened.

In general, the areas on the edges of the devastated zones are coming back the fastest because there are sources of seeds and animals in the adjacent un-devastated zones. The hunting and fishing industry in and around Spirit Lake has not recovered at all.

Sincerely,

Scott

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