ICE AVALANCHE OF 2002 IN THE MOUNTAINS OF NORTHERN OSSETIA

V. D. Panov, Yu. G. Il'ichev, and P. M. Lur'e

The contemporary glaciers in Northern Ossetia and the Genaldon River basin are described. It is specified that there are some pulsating glaciers, which were advancing in 1834, 1902, and 1969. It is shown that on 20 September 2002 the avalanche of ice and mud was triggered by the collapse of a hanging glacier onto the Kolka surging glacier. The ice avalanche covered a distance of 16 km and stopped near the Skalistyi Ridge. The mudflow starting from the ridge raced 10 km down the valleys of the Genaldon and Gizeldon rivers. The ice avalanche and mudflow caused severe damage and the loss of life.

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