Have you ever heard of an avalanche(雪崩)?The avalanche is a kind of sudden natural disaster like earthquakes. During an avalanche a lot of snow and ice rush down the mountain. As they rush, the snow and ice move faster and faster. In fact, snow from an avalanche can move as fast as two hundred miles an hour. That is three times faster than a car on a highway!
Most avalanches happen after big snowstorms. In the mountains like the Alps and the Himalayas, there is snow and ice all year round. After big snowstorms, new snow puts more pressure on the snow that is already in the mountains. It can make the old snow rush down.
Avalanches are very dangerous. Heavy snow moving down the mountains may pull trees and rocks along. That can cause great damage, such as pushing down houses and killing people. Luckily, no one lives in the mountains where avalanches are easy to happen. So not many people die from avalanches each year.
Most people who may lose their lives in avalanches are skiing lovers. It's important for them to stay safe while having fun in the snowy mountains. Scientists can usually tell whether an avalanche might happen or not. If you are a skiing lover, remember to pay attention to scientists' warnings before you go skiing.
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