Landslide Scars

Landslide Scar

A small landslide scar along the water in Meyers Passage

One extraordinarily common feature of the inside passage are the scars left by numerous landslides. Visible as dramatic vertical scars of bare rock and tumbled trees on steep slopes throughout the region. Often these landslides continue directly into the water.

As the glaciers retreated they left behind steep rock walls. These valley walls were smoothed by the passing ice and rock. A few millenia of soil accumulation and tree growth has done little to wear at the underlying rock creating ideal conditions for landslides.

The thin soils with sheer rock faces underneath need only a little push in the right direction to peel away, rock and trees tumbling down the slope. Heavy rains are the usual trigger, saturating the ground, softening the soil and adding many tons of weight.

The results of these conditions leave an obvious scar with a story for the observant traveler.

About Andrew Cooper

An electrical engineer living and working on Mauna Kea, Hawai'i. Webmaster for the NordicQuest.com website. Sometimes the first mate/deckhand/launch driver/anchor detail/cook/dishwasher and mechanic aboard the Nordic Quest.
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