Saturday, June 14, 2014

A Few Geology Notes From Southern Italy

Post trip picture sorting I pulled together a few geology pictures besides the geologic-pilgrimage-macellum-of-pozzuoli that demonstrates that landslides are a challenge to many communities and countries. 



This landslide was a slide area I had previously visited, but this time it stopped our progress on the main coastal road of Cilento. The slide area is approximately 1,000 meters wide and continues beyond the area visible. The slide is within turbidite sands and siltstone.
  
In Basalacata slopes and erosion are a current political issue. But landslides and erosion have been a policy issue in this part of Italy for a long time.

Rebuilt section of Pisticci

Former landslide scrap now with retaining wall 

Pisticci has had numerous landslides including a slide in 1688 that killed 330 people. The area destroyed by the slide was rebuilt on the same slope with hopefully better drainage control.



Craco shown above was abandoned in the 1960s after a series of landslides and pending landslides essentially began to tear the town apart.

Wide swaths of Basalacata are underlain by weak expansive clays and with layers of sand. A wet year has caused many new landslides and closed or highly distressed roads throughout the area.






The area is not unlike the badlands of the Dakotas or the Ringold area in Washington State. 

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