measured in elevation. This brought its elevation to above the 1980 crater floor, approximately above the surface of the Crater Glacier, and below the highest point of the volcano. The whaleback feature measured approximately in length and in width. The diameter of the new dome was about , and it contained about 50 million cubic yards (40 million cubic meters) of material. The total amount of glacier lost by this date was estimated to be 5–10%, but the flow of water from the crater was almost unchanged because the porous nature of the floor of the crater caused the water to be absorbed quickly. Mount St. Helens experienced major activity again on March 8, 2005, at about 5:30p.m. PST, when a plume of steam and presumably ash was witnessed emerging from the volcano, accompanied by a tremor that measured about magnitude 2.5. The plume was visible from the metropolitan areas of Seattle, Washington, to Salem, Oregon, but only lasted for about 20–30 minutes. Ash was reported falling from the sky in Yakima, Washington, and surrounding areas. This activity was not considered a large eruption but merely a minor release of pressure consistent with the nature of dome building. Scientists believed it was triggered by a partial collapse of the lava dome. There was no increase in quake activity before the volcanic event. By May 5, 2005, the highest point on the new dome was , below the highest point of the volcano. It contained approximately of material. Growth of the new dome continued steadily, and small earthquakes continued to be observed every few minutes. The whaleback feature disintegrated steadily but continued to be extruded as solidified lava pushed upward from below. On July 2, 2005, the tip of the whaleback feature broke off, causing a rockfall that sent ash and dust several hundred meters into the air. 2006 activity Following the collapse of the dome and whaleback, a new feature, termed the "slab", began growing. Approximately the size of a football field, the large, cooled volcanic rock was being forced upward as quickly as per day, though the top part of the slab would usually collapse on a daily basis, under its own weight. On July 21, 2006, the crater rim was reopened to hikers. On December 19, 2006, an eruption sent a steam plume billowing over Washington. 2008 activity After a relatively quiet 2007, on January 16, 2008, USGS