Avalanche can be described as a large amount of snow, ice or rock falling with a great speed down the slope of the mountain. This takes place in regions where there is nothing to hold the mass of rock or snow accumulated. The avalanche is a mixture of many kinds of materials like snow, grass, rock dust, etc. Some of the most important examples of avalanches are the one which took place in the year 1993 in Montroc, France; the avalanche in 1970, which caused the destruction of Yungay town.

Causes of Avalanche

Avalanches of all types whether of the snow or rock variety, is caused by one reason, the inability of the mountain slope to hold the growing mass. The terrain of the mountain has to be either flatter than 25 degrees or steeper than 60 degrees. This will not encourage the formation of such a mass of snow or rock. Another reason is the weak surface of the snow mountain, which makes accumulation easier. Since it is a Weather-related disaster , the changes in weather have a major role to play in the creation of avalanches, most important of which is heating by sun and radiational cooling.

Effects of Avalanche

Avalanches have the most disastrous effects in the mountainous regions and the towns or ski safety resorts near them. It is because of this reason that a continuous monitoring is done on the presence of dangerous avalanches. At times they are often stopped with the help of explosions to prevent them from gathering more mass. Avalanche can destroy an entire town which comes in its way. Avalanche Safety measures are some ways in which this force of nature can be tackled.