IT’S FUN TO CELEBRATE THE BEAUTY OF THE SEASON, BUT, AS YOU KNOW, WINTER WEATHER CAN ALSO BE DANGEROUS. GUESTS AND WORKERS AT A HOTEL IN CENTRAL ITALY ARE EXPERIENCING THIS FIRSTHAND, AFTER BEING STRUCK BY AN AVALANCHE. AN AVALANCHE IS A MASS OF SNOW, ICE, AND ROCKS FALLING RAPIDLY DOWN A MOUNTAINSIDE.
IN THIS CASE, THE AVALANCHE WAS TRIGGERED BY A SERIES OF POWERFUL EARTHQUAKES.
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AS WE'VE MENTIONED BEFORE, ITALY HAS BEEN PLAGUED BY QUAKES BECAUSE THE BOOT SHAPED COUNTRY IS SPLIT DOWN THE MIDDLE BY TWO PLATES THAT ARE SLOWLY SHIFTING AWAY FROM EACH OTHER.
THE PAST FEW DAYS, NINE PEOPLE HAVE BEEN RESCUED FROM THE SNOW-COVERED HOTEL, BUT CREWS ARE STILL SEARCHING FOR MORE SURVIVORS.
Instructional Links
Video: PBS LearningMedia, Nova, How Do Avalanches Form | Includes background essay, questions & classroom activity
Website Article: Easy Science for Kids, All about Avalanches | Includes video & vocabulary