Which mountain range in the Pacific Northwest of the United States experienced a major volcanic eruption on May 18, 1980, when Mount St. Helens collapsed in a lateral blast?
Answer and explanation
Correct answer: D. Cascade Range
- Step 1: The Cascade Range is a volcanic arc extending from southwestern British Columbia through Washington and Oregon into northern California.
- Step 2: The 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens was triggered by a 5.1-magnitude earthquake that caused the entire northern flank of the mountain to slide away in the largest debris avalanche in recorded history.
Answer
Cascade Range
Why not the others: 'Sierra Nevada' lies to the south in California and is predominantly non-volcanic granite; 'Olympic Mountains' sit to the west on the Olympic Peninsula; 'Bitterroot Range' is part of the Rockies along the Idaho-Montana border.
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