Avalanches: Facts and Safety

What are avalanches primarily made of?

• Leaves and branches

• Water and mud

• Snow, ice, and rocks

• Sand and rocks

What percentage of avalanche disasters are triggered by humans?

• 100%

• 90%

• 70%

• 50%

What is the most common cause of avalanches?

• Human activity

• Volcanic eruptions

• Earthquakes

• Animal movements

What is the speed at which disastrous avalanches can travel?

• 100 miles per hour

• 150 miles per hour

• 50 miles per hour

• 10 miles per hour

What is the starting zone of an avalanche?

• The flat terrain

• The bottom of the slope

• The middle of the slope

• The most unstable part of the slope

During which months are avalanches most common in the Northern Hemisphere?

• September to November

• December to April

• June to September

• May to August

What can trigger a human-caused avalanche?

• Heavy rain

• Walking or riding over a weak snow layer

• Loud noises

• Strong winds

What is a snow pit used for?

• To study snow layers

• To store food

• To build a snowman

• To trap animals

What can increase the risk of avalanches in the spring?

• Rapid warming and melting

• Heavy snowfall

• Strong winds

• Cold temperatures

What should you do if caught in an avalanche?

• Dig a hole

• Swim hard

• Stand still

• Run uphill