An avalanche is uaually a large slide of snow (and other debris - rocks, trees, etc.) down a mountainslide. Avalanches are caused when the buildup of snow becomes so great that it is released down the side of the slope. Many factors can cause this release - including man-made noise. It is probably the most dangerous of all winter disasters in the mountains.

   An avalanche is not always made of snow but can be rocks, ice or soil which can lead to a different class of debris avalanche. The slides can go on for many miles and reach speeds above 100 km/h (60 mph).

   In 1999, an avalanche in Montroc, France killed 12 people in their chalets. They were buried under 100,000 tonnes of snow with depths of 5 meters (15 feet). The mayor was convicted of second-degree murder for failure to evacuate the area.

   That report is usually an average report on death tolls during avalanches. Victims are usually of a limited number and are often hikers or skiers. It's the accumulation of many avalanches that begin to show a significant amount of deaths. For instance, during World War 1, over 60,000 soldiers died while stationed in the Alps. Many of the avalanches were caused by gun-fire.

   In closing, unless you're in a mountainous area with lots of snow, you really don't have to worry about avalanches, but it's still a natural disaster which has taken many lives and will take even more in the years to come.

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