What was the largest landslide in the United States? In the world?
The largest subaerial (on land) landslide in Earth's recorded history was connected with the 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens volcano in Washington state, USA. That landslide had a volume of 2.8 cubic kilometers (0.67 cubic miles) of material and the landslide traveled about 22.5 kilometers (14 miles) down the North Fork Toutle River. Average landside depth was 46 meters (150 feet) with a maximum depth of 182 meters (600 feet). The landslide velocity was 112-240 kilometers per hour (70-150 miles per hour). Landslides are common on tall, steep, and weak volcanic cones.
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Real-time monitoring of landslides
Landslides cause fatalities and property damage throughout the Nation. To reduce the impact from hazardous landslides, the U.S. Geological Survey develops and uses real-time and near-real-time landslide monitoring systems. Monitoring can detect when hillslopes are primed for sliding and can provide early indications of rapid, catastrophic movement...
Reid, Mark E.; LaHusen, Richard G.; Baum, Rex L.; Kean, Jason W.; Schulz, William H.; Highland, Lynn M.
The Landslide Handbook - A Guide to Understanding Landslides
This handbook is intended to be a resource for people affected by landslides to acquire further knowledge, especially about the conditions that are unique to their neighborhoods and communities. Considerable literature and research are available concerning landslides, but unfortunately little of it is synthesized and integrated to address the...
Highland, Lynn M.; Bobrowsky, Peter
Video documentation of experiments at the USGS debris-flow flume 1992–2017
This set of videos presents about 18 hours of footage documenting the 163 experiments conducted at the USGS debris-flow flume from 1992 to 2017. Owing to improvements in video technology over the years, the quality of footage from recent experiments generally exceeds that from earlier experiments.Use the list below to access the individual videos...
Logan, Matthew; Iverson, Richard M.
Landslide Hazards - A National Threat
Landslides occur and can cause damage in all 50 States. Severe storms, earthquakes, volcanic activity, coastal wave attack, and wildfires can cause widespread slope instability. Landslide danger may be high even as emergency personnel are providing rescue and recovery services. To address landslide hazards, several questions must be considered...
Southern California landslides-an overview
Southern California lies astride a major tectonic plate boundary defined by the San Andreas Fault and numerous related faults that are spread across a broad region. This dynamic tectonic environment has created a spectacular landscape of rugged mountains and steep-walled valleys that compose much of the region’s scenic beauty. Unfortunately...
Landslide types and processes
Highland, Lynn
The mountain that moved: geologic wonders of the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests
Prehistoric, giant landslides in Montgomery and Craig Counties, Va., in the Blacksburg/Wythe Ranger Districts of the Jefferson National Forest, are the largest known landslides in eastern North America and are among the largest in the world. One of the landslides is more than 3 miles long! The ancient, giant landslides extend for more than 20...
Debris-flow hazards in the United States
No abstract available.
Highland, Lynn; Ellen, Stephenson D.; Christian, Sarah B.; Brown, William M.
Landslide overview map of the conterminous United States
The accompanying landslide overview map of the conterminous United States is one of a series of National Environmental Overview Maps that summarize geologic, hydrogeologic, and topographic data essential to the assessment of national environmental problems. The map delineates areas where large numbers of landslides exist and areas which are...
Radbruch-Hall, Dorothy H.; Colton, Roger B.; Davies, William E.; Lucchitta, Ivo; Skipp, Betty A.; Varnes, David J.
Physiographic diagrams of the May 18, 1980, landslide-eruption of Mount St. Helens, Washington
This sequence of diagrams shows the complex series of events that culminated in the catastrophic eruption of Mount St. Helens on the morning of May 18, 1980.
Alpha, Tau Rho; Moore, James G.
New Landslide Guidebook for Puerto Rico Residents
A new landslide guidebook released February 5 is now available for Puerto Rico residents to learn more about the landslide hazards that can impact the island.
Landslide Risks Highlighted in New Online Tool
The U.S. Geological Survey today unveiled a new web-based interactive map that marks an important step toward mapping areas that could be at higher risk for future landslides. In collaboration with state geological surveys and other federal agencies, USGS has compiled much of the existing landslide data into a searchable, web-based interactive map called the U.S. Landslide Inventory Map.
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Documenting landslides in Puerto Rico caused by Hurricane Maria.
Bill Schulz, USGS Research Geologist, takes photographs of Puerto Rican hillsides from a U.S. Army helicopter to document landslides caused by Hurricane Maria. This work will help identify areas around Puerto Rico with the highest risk of more landslides, which is information the Federal Emergency Management Agency will use to determine the best way to mitigate and prepare
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Big Sur landslide on May 20, 2017
USGS air photo of the Mud Creek landslide, taken on May 27, 2017.
Digital Elevation Map of Mount St. Helens pre and post 1980
The shaded relief image was produced from LIDAR data. LIDAR is an acronym for Light Detection and Ranging, a modern remote sensing technique used to map topography very accurately—more so than is possible with older techniques. The crater is 1.2 miles (1.9km) wide east-west. Elsewhere the scale varies owing to the oblique viewing angle. The landslide deposit includes the
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Volcano Web Shorts 2: Debris Flows
Debris flows are hazardous flows of rock, sediment and water that surge down mountain slopes and into adjacent valleys. Hydrologist Richard Iverson describes the nature of debris-flow research and explains how debris flow experiments are conducted at the USGS Debris Flow Flume, west of Eugene, Oregon. Spectacular debris flow footage, recorded by Franck Lavigne of the
Mud Creek landslide near Big Sur
A view of the Mud Creek landslide near Big Sur, California, from the research vessel Snavely
2005 Landslide in La Conchita, CA
On January 10, 2005, a landslide struck the community of La Conchita in Ventura County, California, destroying or seriously damaging 36 houses and killing 10 people. For a USGS rerpot on this event, please see USGS Open-file report, "Landslide Hazards at La Conchita, California."
North Flank of Mount St. Helens
This view from near the Forest Learning Center along Highway 504 shows the north flank of Mount St. Helens, from which much of the debris from the massive 1980 avalanche/eruption spilled into the Toutle River valley. The eruption produced about 3 cubic kilometers of ash and sediment that was distributed across the landscape around the volcano. This material is being
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Mount St. Helens Simplified Volcano Hazards Map
Mount St. Helens, Washington simplified hazards map showing potential impact area for ground-based hazards during a volcanic event. More simplified volcano hazard maps for the other Cascades Volcanoes can be found here.
Mount Saint Helens eruption
On Sunday, May 18, 1980 at 8:32 a.m., the bulging north flank of Mount St. Helens slid away in a massive landslide -- the largest in recorded history. Seconds later, the uncorked volcano exploded and blasted rocks northward across forest ridges and valleys, destroying everything in its path within minutes.
2008 Landslide Near Hongyan Resort, China
The May 12, 2008, Great Sichuan Earthquake, also called the Wenchuan Earthquake, occurred at 14:28 local time, in Sichuan Province, China. The earthquake magnitudes were Mw = 7.9 (USGS), Ms = 8.0 (Chinese Earthquake Administration). The epicenter was 80 km west-northwest of Chengdu, the capital city of Sichuan province. Damage by earthquake-induced landslides was
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