An avalanche is a snowslide or a landslide. The snow or rocks come sliding down a steep slope. Most avalanches are near the tops of mountains. Slopes are likely to be very steep there.
Mountain climbing can be dangerous to the people who are doing the climbing. It can be dangerous, too, to the people down below, for a party of mountain climbers can easily start an avalanche. Even a mountain goat, by walking out on a snow field or a field of loose stones, can start one.
When a snowslide starts, it may make as much noise as a cannon. The snow may travel down the slope at a speed of 200 miles an hour. At the foot of the slope it may bury roads or railroads or even whole villages.
Landslides are usually not so noisy when they start. But, if the land that is sliding is made up mostly of loose rocks, the rocks sometimes sound like a great pack of dogs as they come down. Landslides may bury roads and railroads and villages, just as snowslides sometimes do.
Snowslides happen most often in the spring, when the snow is beginning to melt. Landslides are most likely to come after heavy rains or during spring thaws.
Mountain climbing can be dangerous to the people who are doing the climbing. It can be dangerous, too, to the people down below, for a party of mountain climbers can easily start an avalanche. Even a mountain goat, by walking out on a snow field or a field of loose stones, can start one.
When a snowslide starts, it may make as much noise as a cannon. The snow may travel down the slope at a speed of 200 miles an hour. At the foot of the slope it may bury roads or railroads or even whole villages.
Landslides are usually not so noisy when they start. But, if the land that is sliding is made up mostly of loose rocks, the rocks sometimes sound like a great pack of dogs as they come down. Landslides may bury roads and railroads and villages, just as snowslides sometimes do.
Snowslides happen most often in the spring, when the snow is beginning to melt. Landslides are most likely to come after heavy rains or during spring thaws.
