Landslides are one of the most common disasters we know. It usually accompanies other major disasters, such as earthquakes, flood, etc. Sometimes, the landslide is even more damaging than the triggering event. It is very deadly and very damaging to us, and can affect us in many negative ways. And although it may be deadly and dangerous, there are still some little things you might want to know about landslides. Some information that isn’t that necessary, but it’s still fun to know. Here are some facts that have been gathered for your learning pleasure:
· In British English, landslides are called landslips. Other names for landslides may also include mudflows, mudslides, mass effect, earthflows, and flow slides.
· Avalanches are the snowy equivalent of landslides.
· Japan is the world’s leader in the study of the prevention of mudflows.
· The word “landslide” has been used since around the late 1800s to the early 1900s.
· Every year in the US, landslides cause approximately $3.5 billion in damage, which is equal to around PhP 155,244,250,000.00.
· Landslides most often occur in the United States.
· One of the largest landslides ever recorded went over 9 miles in just a few minutes.
· The speed of the fasted landslide ever recorded was an impressive 186 miles per hour.
· It’s possible for landslides to occur in other planets; most especially in Venus and Mars, where evidence of landslides can be observed.
· Landslides may even occur most frequently in regions where climate and precipitation, bedrock and soil conditions, and slopes are susceptible to failure.
· Casualties from landslides are usually caused by rock falls, rock slides, and quick-moving debris.
· The consistency of debris flows range from watery mud to thick, rocky mud that can carry different large items such as boulders, trees, and cars.
· Landslides are most likely to occur in places where they have already happened in the past.
· A phenomenon similar to landslides called pyroclastic flow occurs during a volcanic eruption and is caused by a collapsing cloud of hot ash, gas and rocks from the explosion that moves rapidly down the slope of the volcano.
· The sturzstrom, a kind of landslide, is named after the German words sturz (fall) and strom (stream). It is a unique kind of landslide that has a great horizontal movement when compared to its initial vertical drop.
Hopefully you’ve read all that’s written above, and hopefully you’ve learned something new too. Landslides, like many other things, are actually really interesting to learn about. Everything has some interesting facts that are fun to learn and know. Landslides and other disasters aren’t exceptions. I hope you continue to learn more about landslides and other disasters, and keep yourself safe in case a calamity or disaster may randomly strike.
Sources:
TIME for Kids: Earthquakes
World Book Dictionary Volume 2 L-Z
Natural Disasters: Avalanches and Landslides
www.dosomething.org/facts/11-facts-about-landslides
www.landslides4791.weebly.com/interesting-facts.html
www.geologycafe.com/landslide/where.html
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mudflow
www.google.com
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Landslide
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sturzstrom
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