Book 24, Question 120
What causes a landslide, and what are the warning signs?
A landslide happens when a slope of soil and rock slides downhill. Heavy rain, melting snow, or an earthquake can make the ground heavy and slippery. Tilted trees, new cracks in the ground, muddy springs, and falling pebbles can be warning signs. If you see them, move away to the side, not down the hill, and tell a grown-up.
More fun facts
- A landslide is rock, earth or other material sliding down a slope.
- Rain, earthquakes and volcanoes can all make a slope unstable.
- Erosion by water is a classic cause because it weakens the ground.
- Slopes that lose their plants to fire or drought are more likely to slide.
- Farming and building can also raise the risk of a landslide.
- A landslide can carry rock, soil, plants, water or a mix of all of them.
Sources: National Geographic Education
Questions kids ask
Do landslides happen on other planets?
Yes. Scientists think a giant landslide long ago helped shape a plateau on Mars.