Case Study: The Alps

The Alps were formed 35 million years ago during the Alpine folding period, when the African and Eurasian plates collided.

Economic Impacts

1. Farming: the fold mountains of the Alps are used for farming sheep, goats and cattle. In the summer, the animals are moved further up the slope to graze.
2. Hydro-electric power{electricity generated from water}: melted snow gives water which is used to generate hydro-electric power.
3. Tourism: lost of people visit the Alps to ski or snowboard in the winter, or hike in the summer. The income generated by tourism can provide a better standard of... (More)

Mass Movement - the movement of regolith down a slope due to gravity.

Regolith - loose material such as soil, rocks and mud. (Produced when rocks have been weathered and eroded).

Factors affecting Mass Movement

1. Gradient (slope)

• the steepness of the slope.
• the steeper the slope, the faster the movement of regolith.

2. Water (rain)

• water makes regolith heavier causing it to move downwards faster
• water acts as a lubricant causing it to move downwards easier.

3. Human activity

- building roads, quarrying, construction can all make the land unstable and cause mass movement.

4. Vegetation (plants/trees)

- the... (More)