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Browse our photos of landslide research and post-landslide investigations.

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View of debris flows on hillslope in Puerto Rico from above
Hurricane Maria debris flows - Naranjito, Puerto Rico 2017
Hurricane Maria debris flows - Naranjito, Puerto Rico 2017
Hurricane Maria debris flows - Naranjito, Puerto Rico 2017

Numerous debris flows caused by intense rainfall from Hurricane Maria in September 2017 in Puerto Rico. Trees are bare due to the hurricane force winds that stripped the leaves. 

Numerous debris flows caused by intense rainfall from Hurricane Maria in September 2017 in Puerto Rico. Trees are bare due to the hurricane force winds that stripped the leaves. 

A hillside showing landslides with debris from one landslide impacting a house at the bottom of the slope.
Rainfall and Landslides in Northern CA
Rainfall and Landslides in Northern CA
Rainfall and Landslides in Northern CA

Shallow landslides damaged homes and closed many roads in the San Francisco East Bay region as a result of storms in January and February, 2017.

Shallow landslides damaged homes and closed many roads in the San Francisco East Bay region as a result of storms in January and February, 2017.

landslide destruction to the exterior of a home in King County, WA
Home damaged by rainfall-triggered debris flow - King County, Washington
Home damaged by rainfall-triggered debris flow - King County, Washington
Home damaged by rainfall-triggered debris flow - King County, Washington

Landslide caused by intense rainfall in February 2017 in King County, WA. The rapid landslide destroyed a garage and a large propane tank. 

New Zealand Landslides
New Zealand Landslides
New Zealand Landslides
New Zealand Landslides

Photograph showing a landslide-dammed lake in the headwaters of the Hapuku River in the Seaward Kaikoura mountain range in New Zealand.

Photograph showing a landslide-dammed lake in the headwaters of the Hapuku River in the Seaward Kaikoura mountain range in New Zealand.

New Zealand Landslides
New Zealand Landslides
New Zealand Landslides
New Zealand Landslides

Photograph showing Papatea Fault surface rupture near Waipapa Bay in New Zealand. The fault moved about 10 m horizontally and uplifted shoreline platform about 2 m at this location.

Photograph showing Papatea Fault surface rupture near Waipapa Bay in New Zealand. The fault moved about 10 m horizontally and uplifted shoreline platform about 2 m at this location.

New Zealand Landslides
New Zealand Landslides
New Zealand Landslides
New Zealand Landslides

Photograph showing landslides covering State Route 1 near Ohau Point. The route was impacted my several landslides and is the main north-south highway on the eastern part of the South Island of New Zealand.

Photograph showing landslides covering State Route 1 near Ohau Point. The route was impacted my several landslides and is the main north-south highway on the eastern part of the South Island of New Zealand.

Scientist stands on bank of landslide debris.  Fallen trees throughout the photo.
Extensional structural features of the 2014 SR530 landslide near Oso
Extensional structural features of the 2014 SR530 landslide near Oso
Extensional structural features of the 2014 SR530 landslide near Oso

USGS hydrologist Mark Reid examines an extensional basin in the middle of the Oso landslide deposit.  The headscarp (near-vertical cliff at the back of the landslide) is visible at the top of the image.  The prominent tree is one of many that fell and became perched as the landslide spread out over the river valley.

USGS hydrologist Mark Reid examines an extensional basin in the middle of the Oso landslide deposit.  The headscarp (near-vertical cliff at the back of the landslide) is visible at the top of the image.  The prominent tree is one of many that fell and became perched as the landslide spread out over the river valley.

view of Salt Creek rock avalanche in Western Colorado from the top
Salt Creek Rock Avalanche in Western Colorado
Salt Creek Rock Avalanche in Western Colorado
Salt Creek Rock Avalanche in Western Colorado

Photograph taken from a Colorado National Guard helicopter looking north down the West Salt Creek rock avalanche deposit. On May 25, 2014, the central core of the rock avalanche deposit continued to move for 1-2 hours after the main rock avalanche deposit had stopped moving.

Photograph taken from a Colorado National Guard helicopter looking north down the West Salt Creek rock avalanche deposit. On May 25, 2014, the central core of the rock avalanche deposit continued to move for 1-2 hours after the main rock avalanche deposit had stopped moving.

Image: La Conchita
La Conchita
La Conchita
La Conchita

An oblique LIDAR image of La Conchita, Calif., reveals the community’s grim landslide history. The 1995 landslide is outlined in blue and the 2005 landslide in yellow, while a red line overhead outlines the main scarp of an ancient landslide that involved the entire bluff. Arrows show other landslides in the area.

An oblique LIDAR image of La Conchita, Calif., reveals the community’s grim landslide history. The 1995 landslide is outlined in blue and the 2005 landslide in yellow, while a red line overhead outlines the main scarp of an ancient landslide that involved the entire bluff. Arrows show other landslides in the area.

Image: 2005 Landslide in Conchita, CA
2005 Landslide in Conchita, CA
2005 Landslide in Conchita, CA
2005 Landslide in Conchita, CA

This landslide occurred at La Conchita, California in 2005. Ten people were killed.

Home with large crack in foundation
Slow landslide building damage - Boyd County, Kentucky
Slow landslide building damage - Boyd County, Kentucky
Slow landslide building damage - Boyd County, Kentucky

Building damage caused by a slow landslide in Boyd County, Kentucky. Previous repairs reveal that the landslide has moved in the past. 

USGS researcher examines large-scale structural features of the 2014 SR530 landslide near Oso, Washington
Scientist stands on the bank of a still river
Scientist stands on the bank of a still river
Scientist stands on the bank of a still river

USGS hydrologist Mark Reid looks at one of the many grabens (extensional basins) that formed as the Oso landslide swept across the North Fork Stillaguamish River valley.

USGS hydrologist Mark Reid looks at one of the many grabens (extensional basins) that formed as the Oso landslide swept across the North Fork Stillaguamish River valley.

A volcano monitoring “spider” deployed by helicopter to the Oso landslide to track ground movement and seismicity
A volcano monitoring “spider” deployed to the Oso landslide
A volcano monitoring “spider” deployed to the Oso landslide
A volcano monitoring “spider” deployed to the Oso landslide

A volcano monitoring “spider” was deployed by helicopter to the Oso landslide to track ground movement and seismicity while search-and-rescue operations were ongoing.  The spider was equipped with a seismometer (mounted on the far left leg) to track ground shaking and GPS (a dome-shaped instrument on the upper mast) to track subtle ground movement.

A volcano monitoring “spider” was deployed by helicopter to the Oso landslide to track ground movement and seismicity while search-and-rescue operations were ongoing.  The spider was equipped with a seismometer (mounted on the far left leg) to track ground shaking and GPS (a dome-shaped instrument on the upper mast) to track subtle ground movement.

landslide
Catastrophic landslide near Oso, WA, Mar. 22, 2014.
Catastrophic landslide near Oso, WA, Mar. 22, 2014.
Image: Oso, Washington Landslide
Oso, Washington Landslide
Oso, Washington Landslide
Oso, Washington Landslide

Oblique aerial photograph of the Oso, Washington landslide, showing the entire extent of the landslide source area and path.

Location: State Route 530, Oso, Washington

Oblique aerial photograph of the Oso, Washington landslide, showing the entire extent of the landslide source area and path.

Location: State Route 530, Oso, Washington

large crack in ground in forested area
Potential landslide indicator - Snohomish County, Washington
Potential landslide indicator - Snohomish County, Washington
Potential landslide indicator - Snohomish County, Washington

Cracks on a gravel road formed during the reactivation of a slow, deep landslide. The cracks can be indicators of local movement in or around the road or in this case, are a sign of a much larger landslide. 

Cracks on a gravel road formed during the reactivation of a slow, deep landslide. The cracks can be indicators of local movement in or around the road or in this case, are a sign of a much larger landslide. 

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