What is a landslide: its danger and consequences

The natural environment, even now, in the twenty-first century, is capable of presenting dangerous surprises to man. Not all phenomena can be prevented in time and to protect people from their consequences. However, as you know, warned - then, armed. We will get acquainted with what is a landslide and how you can cope with it.

Characteristic

Settlements and residential buildings located on the bank of a river, lake, sea, ravine or steep hill, can become victims of this cataclysm. He manifests himself in the most inconspicuous way, in which the danger lies. With the passage of time, the soil begins to shift, carrying all the land structures behind it. And the layer of the earth, carried away by gravity, can move slowly or quickly, on some meters in a year or in a minute. The cause of the phenomenon lies in the destructive effect of water. She washes away the slopes or rocks, and imbues them with moisture. Thus, it is possible to determine what is a landslide, which is still considered the most "calm" natural disaster. These phenomena are nothing but a sudden shift of loose masses of soil or rocks along an inclined plane.

Causes of the landslide

Shift a layer of earth or rocks can an earthquake. Human activities can also have a devastating effect. For example, carrying out blasting operations. This natural phenomenon occurs when the stability of rocks or soils is impaired, especially if there is a waterproof layer consisting of clay on the slope. It plays the role of lubricant. When it is heavily moistened, the danger of soil slipping increases. Between the clay particles, adhesion decreases. It can be said that atmospheric water, underground springs and winds serve as a catalyst for the development of a dangerous natural phenomenon. Therefore, the slipping of the soil is most often observed in the spring after the melting of the snow or after heavy rains. About what is a landslide and how to behave when it occurs, people must know whose activities are related to the mountains, or residents of coastal areas. If the soil moves with a speed of more than a meter a day, a pre-designed action plan is needed. In the event of a threat of collapse, the population is evacuated.

Effects

Natural phenomenon leads to the formation of a so-called "landslide body." It takes the form of a semiring. In its middle, a decrease occurs. As a result of the development, landslides and landslides lead to serious consequences. Pipelines, houses, roads are being destroyed, serious damage is done to agricultural lands. The worst thing that these cataclysms lead to is the death of people. But the first phenomenon differs from the second by the rate at which masses of soil or rocks descend. At the collapse, which is most often observed in the mountains, everything happens much faster.

The most terrible consequences of landslides

As an example of the destructive power of this natural phenomenon, one can cite the case in the Crimea in 2005. This region, especially its southern part, is the most susceptible to sliding layers of soil. In 1994, natural disasters became a real disaster for Kyrgyzstan. Landslides, moving at a speed of hundreds of meters per minute, destroyed many houses, there were human losses. In Russia, the most dangerous regions are the Volga region - the Saratov region, Volgograd, the Kuban valley and many areas of Siberia. Krasnodar Territory and the Black Sea coast - the place of frequent occurrence of landslides. In 2006, after the melting of snow and rain in the mountains in Chechnya, a mass demolition occurred. The rocks, whose thickness was up to two meters, descended from the slopes and caused the destruction of about six dozen houses in several localities. In the current year of 2014, there was a giant landslide in Afghanistan, which affected more than two thousand people and hundreds of houses were destroyed.

Guide to action

Explore what a landslide is, and scientists and specialists working at special landslide stations are studying this natural cataclysm. The following signs can signal the approach of a dangerous phenomenon. Doors and windows in the premises wedges. From the slope, from which a landslide is about to collapse, water begins to ooze. About what is happening it is necessary to inform the Ministry of Emergency Situations. In this case, it is necessary to act according to the situation. If there is a signal of danger, you must first turn off the house, turn off the gas and water supply network. After this, prepare for evacuation from the premises, which fell into the zone of natural cataclysm. After a landslide, it is very dangerous to be in a room that has suffered from a natural phenomenon. Do it only if the threat is over. But always it is worth checking the integrity of the gas pipeline and electrical wiring. Then necessarily examine the integrity of walls and ceilings. During the rescue operation, it is recommended to render all possible assistance to specialists who eliminate the consequences of landslides and extract them from the collapses of the affected people.