Evaluation of the Avalanche Danger in Northwest Rila Mountain - Sustainable Development in Mountain Regions: Southeastern Europe - page 101

9.3 Conclusions
The formation of avalanches is a risky geomorphologic process for whose formation
must be available specific climatic and geomorphologic conditions. The formation
of avalanches in Northwest Rila is with a big intensity. The destructive activity of the
avalanches is caused by the detonation caused by the snow mass and the preceding
air wave. The avalanches cause not only direct demolitions but also the formation
of avalanche gullies, at the base of which are piled up rock aggregations.
Avalanches can be formed also in a thin forest and on their way they also affect
the forest belt by lowering the upper boundary of the forest.
The number of the victims of an avalanche does not depend on its size. An exam-
ple for this is the small avalanche that dropped down from the Orleto Hill and took
the lives of 11 people.
The region is with a well-developed infrastructure and is visited all the year
round. This also presupposes more avalanche incidents. A significant part of the
avalanches are caused by the tourists themselves.
An important snow-keeping significance has the plant coverage. By relevant
activities the formation of avalanches can be significantly decreased.
The avalanches arise most frequently along the steep slopes of the glacial through
valleys of the rivers Malyovitsa, Urdina, Skakavitza, Prav Iskar, Dupniska Bistritza,
Drushliavitza, etc. as well as along the circus walls of all circuses in the region. At
certain conditions even with the winter marking there is not a completely safe road.
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Peev Hr (1968) Snow, the reasons for the avalanche formation, types of avalanches and protection.
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