Knowing a volcano's past is crucial to forecasting its future behavior. Because of the destructive nature of a volcanic eruption, we tend to overlook a volcano's benefits. Magma circulates and deposits many valuable elements, such as gold, silver, zinc, sulfur, and copper. Magma heats ground water systems that can be tapped to produce geothermal power. This heated ground water can also result in geysers and hot springs.
Volcanoes are also responsible for some of the world's most fertile soils.
Creating a Legend 45 minutes Students create a legend that explains the existence of Mount St. Helens. Mount St. Helens has been a fact of life for people living in its shadow ever since humans began populating the Pacific Northwest more than 10,000 years ago. There have been dozens of eruptions during the past 4,500 years. Before there were scientific explanations for why volcanoes erupted, people developed stories to explain the presence and behavior of volcanoes. Its modern name, Mount St. Helens, was given to the volcano in 1792 by Captain George Vancouver of the British Royal Navy.