What does Avalanche mean?

avalanche, Large mass of material, such as snow or rock debris, that moves rapidly down a mountain slope, sweeping everything in its path.

What happens during a snow avalanche?

During an avalanche, a mass of snow, rock, ice, soil, and other material slides swiftly down a mountainside. Avalanches of rocks or soil are often called landslides. Snowslides, the most common kind of avalanche, can sweep downhill faster than the fastest skier. A snow avalanche begins when an unstable mass of snow breaks away from a slope.

Are avalanches dangerous?

Avalanches can be extremely deadly in nature and bury entire settlements located on the slopes or at the base of a mountain. Deaths are mainly caused due to a lack of oxygen when buried underneath several meters of snow. Avalanches can be triggered by both natural and human-induced factors.

What are avalanches made of?

Primarily composed of flowing snow and air, large avalanches have the capability to capture and move ice, rocks, and trees. Avalanches occur in two general forms, or combinations thereof: slab avalanches made of tightly packed snow, triggered by a collapse of an underlying weak snow layer, and loose snow avalanches made of looser snow.