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Quite simply, settled snow. Avalanches are a result of the accumulation of snow at the top of a slope or incline becoming dislodged (by its own weight, an explosion, vibrations or loud noise, or a quake event). The mass of snow tends to behave rather like a liquid on its way down, breaking apart and flowing around and over obstacles. Those who have been caught (and instantly buried) by avalanches state that it was as though they'd been swept up by a tidal wave.

Once the avalanche runs out of slope, it settles. A lot of the snow that was originally stacking up at the top of the slope will now be at the bottom, but snow will eventually accumulate at the top again, leading always to another potential avalanche.

In populated areas or those visited/used by tourists/skiers, it is not uncommon for local rangers/wardens to mitigate the risk of a large avalanche by periodically setting off small explosive charges under accumulating shelves, dispersing the snow before it achieves a dangerous mass.

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13y ago

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