Thursday, March 3, 2011

Peru's mass wasting

Peru’s exotic mountains and valleys currently continue to be victims of mass wasting. Mass wasting is the down sloping movement of rocks caused by gravity. This process helps eroding material get from high elevations to low elevations. Although erosion may not sound complex or harmful, it has created fear in Peruvian civilians. Peruvians has been victims to landslides and avalanches due to earthquakes.
Process's of mass wasting



Landslides are when mass movements of rocks, debris, and soil travel down a slope taking weak lose objects in its way. Even though landslides occur as a natural environmental hazard, recent activities have been due to human activity.
mud landsliding occurring
Avalanches can occur under different circumstances. The most common way is through vibrations or silent movements like echoes. They also occur when it rains or snow starts to melt. The liquid starts to roll down the slope causing it to bring down small portions of snow that turn into avalanches.   
Avalanche

In conclusion to mass wasting, it is most unfortunate to see the environments natural occurrences create fatal consequences. It is especially sad to see how some people can be left without a home in a matter of seconds. In Peru mass wasting continues to conquer small villages and towns near the Andean mountain range.  
home eroded by landslides