A landslide is a sudden, rapid, and often catastrophic movement of rock, debris, or earth down a slope. Landslides can occur when the slope is destabilized by a number of factors, including rainfall, earthquakes, and changes in the underlying rock or soil.
The term landslide was first used in 1806 by William MacGillivray in his book A Journey through the Western Isles of Scotland. The word landslide comes from the Old Norse word land-sleit, which means "land-sliding" or "land-slipping".
A landslide is a natural disaster that can occur when the ground becomes unstable and slides down a slope. Landslides can be caused by a variety of factors, including rainfall, earthquakes, and volcanic eruptions.
Landslides can be devastating, causing property damage, loss of life, and displacement of people. In 2018, there were more than 3,700 reported landslides in the United States, resulting in 133 deaths and $2.5 billion in damage.
