In 1980, after 123 years of slumber, Mount St. Helens erupted, destroying 200 square miles of forest and much of the life in the surrounding area. This program provides an in-depth scientific analysis of this historic event—the actual eruption, its geological causes, and the profound environmental impact. A geologist explains the forces behind the eruption. The only photos taken on-scene show a portion of the mountain collapsing in the largest recorded landslide in history. Now, fifteen years later, biologists examine the return of life to the area, and the slow recovery of the environment. (51 minutes)