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Debris flow

A debris flow is a fast-moving mixture of water, rock, mud, and organic material flowing down steep valleys, often triggered by intense rainfall or rapid snowmelt. In Switzerland, debris flows are mapped in the cantonal natural-hazard cadastres, especially in Alpine and pre-Alpine regions.

What this data measures

Debris-flow hazard layers define areas historically affected by or predicted to experience debris flows.

The data typically distinguishes source areas, transit corridors, and deposition zones.

How to interpret it

Debris-flow hazard is most relevant for properties in valley floors along steep alpine or pre-alpine streams.

A property in a deposition zone can be exposed to a flow triggered upstream, so upstream weather and geology matter as much as immediate surroundings.

Cantonal hazard maps are the authoritative reference for zoning and planning decisions.

Data sources