Volcanic landslide
Landslides are now recognized to be a normal phenomena associated with the growth of many shield and stratovolcanoes. As successive eruptions pile more and more material on to a volcano's flank, stability may decrease and eventually result on the collapse of the flank as a landslide. Landslides descending into the sea will generate dangerous tsunamis. Gigantic submarine landslide deposits are found off the coasts of some Hawaiian and Canary Islands. One of the most famous volcanic landslides was caused by the lateral bulging of Mount St. Helens prior to its eruption on 18. May 1980.
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Landslides on Stromboli 2002. Picture: J. Alean |