Encyclopedia of Early Modern History Online

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Avalanche
(936 words)

1. Introduction

An avalanche is a rapidly sliding or falling mass of snow - sometimes ice - that detaches from a steep, unforested slope and descends to the valley. The phenomenon occurs in particular in association with heavy snowfalls, a thaw, or severe drifting, but it can also be triggered by human activity. Modern research into avalanches distinguishes two fundamental types: wet avalanches and dry (powder) avalanches. In a…

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Rohr, Christian, “Avalanche”, in: Encyclopedia of Early Modern History Online, Editors of the English edition: Graeme Dunphy, Andrew Gow. Original German Edition: Enzyklopädie der Neuzeit. Im Auftrag des Kulturwissenschaftlichen Instituts (Essen) und in Verbindung mit den Fachherausgebern herausgegeben von Friedrich Jaeger. Copyright © J.B. Metzlersche Verlagsbuchhandlung und Carl Ernst Poeschel Verlag GmbH 2005–2012. Consulted online on 19 March 2024 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/2352-0272_emho_COM_023179>
First published online: 2015
First print edition: 20160321



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