Washington Landslide, 2014
A photo from an aerial survey showing the upper parts of the landslide that occurred in northwest Washington state, near Oso, on March 22, 2014. USGS landslide specialists, in collaboration with seismologists and state agencies, are still working to interpret the complex sequence of events that led to the landslide. To get a perspective on the size of the landslide, look toward the bottom-left of this photo and you'll see, what appears to be, a tiny house just inside the tree line. The landslide occurred in an area of known landslide activity, but this time the slide was much larger, traveled much further, and had greater destructive force than previously experienced. Precipitation in the area in February and March was 150 to 200% of the long-term average, and likely contributed to landslide initiation. A portion of an unstable hill collapsed, sending mud and debris across the North Fork of the Stillaguamish River, engulfing a rural neighborhood, and covering an area of approximately 1 square mile. Forty-three people were killed. Excluding landslides caused by volcanic eruptions, earthquakes or dam collapses, the Oso slide is the deadliest single landslide event in United States history.
Size: 4500px × 2990px
Photo credit: © Photo Researchers / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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