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Geological hazards

Nature is beautiful - but it can also be dangerous: Natural phenomena, which have causes in the Earth’s interior or near the surface of the Earth, can result in natural disasters. Examples include volcanoes, earthquakes, landslides and floods.

The rockslide of Randa 1991
The rockslide of Randa 1991
© PLANAT

Earthquakes

Earthquakes are caused by stresses in the Earth’s interior which built up by the movement of the Earth’s crustal plates relative to one another. If these stresses become too large then a fracture...

Water & ice

Whether fluid or frozen: water can cause a variety of natural hazards

Anthropogenic pollution

The most diverse bedrock and rock components have weathered to fertile soils over thousands of years. They constitute the indispensable foundation for the terrestrial ecosystem, for plant growth and...

Rockfall, landslides, debris flows

Mass movements (gravitational natural hazards) are downslope directed displacements of solid and/or loose rocks as well as soil material. As falling processes, they can occur quickly and suddenly....

Natural pollution

Pollution is understood to mean the natural or anthropogenic pollution of the living environment by polluting nature with harmful substances such as toxins, microorganisms and radioactive material.


Geologische Gefahren