How Do Avalanches Form? 

Avalanches are formed in many ways. Avalanches are formed when a big snowstorm comes and blows all the snow off the edge of the mountainside. It also happens when there is a very weak layer of snow on the mountain-side and it just topples off or breaks off the side.

What Types Of Avalanches There Are? 

There are 3 different types of avalanches. One of them is a surface avalanche. A surface avalanche is when one layer of snow slides over another layer of snow. This layer gets bigger and bigger as it picks up snow along it's way. Another type of avalanche is called a full-depth avalanche. A full-depth avalanche is when the entire snow layer which covers the mountain-side as it slides down. The last one is called a wet slab avalanche. A wet slab avalanche is the slowest moving avalanche, but it is also one of the most deadly avalanches that can slide down the mountain-side.    

A full-depth avalanche:

A surface avalanche:

A wet slab avalanche:

What effects an avalanche can make on the people and land?

Avalanches can make lots of damage to the land. If people are snowboarding, skiing or playing in the snow, you could get killed or lose someone or something you love. There is not just snow coming down the mountain-side, there are rocks, trees, cars and all kinds of objects that get in the way of an avalanche. If you get caught in an avalanche, you might just have a chance to survive. You need to get found or find your way out of the snow, in 30 minutes. Because after 30 minutes have gone, the snow will harden and that person will not escape and die. If an avalanche gets really big it might push houses, trees,power lines and so on over. Avalanches can also block the doors and windows or even cover the whole house so no one can escape. In the world war one, over 60,000 solders got killed by a huge avalanche in the Alps!