This pond in the debris field along the North Fork of the
Toutle River reflects the chaos and shear volume of material generated by
the avalanche and destruction caused by the May, 1980 eruption of Mount
St. Helens (shown in the distance). The debris field is now home to thousands
of small ponds. An aquatic ecosystem (including a variety of insects and
amphibians) has become re-established in and around these ponds. |