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Landslide Photo Collections

Searchable USGS Photo and Multimedia Archive with Ordering Information

  • In June, 1999, a series of rock falls occurred from the north face of Glacier Point above Camp Curry, Yosemite National Park, California. For more information please see USGS Open-file reports, "Rock-fall Potential in the Yosemite Valley, California", and "Rock falls from Glacier Point above Camp Curry, Yosemite National Park, California" online: http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/1999/ofr-99-0578/ and http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/1999/ofr-99-0385/
    Yosemite Valley Rockfall, 1999
    (6 pictures)
  • On January 10, 2005, a landslide struck the community of La Conchita in Ventura County, California, destroying or seriously damaging 36 houses and killing 10 people. For a U.S. Geological Survey rerpot on this event, please see USGS Open-file report, "Landslide Hazards at La Conchita, California": http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2005/1067/
    The 2005 La Conchita, California Landslide
    (8 pictures)

  • San Francisco Region, CA, 1998
    (4 pictures)
  • High-intensity short-duration rainfall produced debris flows in the late afternoon of July 11, 1999 in the community of Forest Falls. Forest Falls is located along the south side of a major canyon, Mill Creek Canyon, in the southeastern part of the San Bernardino Mountains. Mill Creek Canyon is a very steep-walled canyon developed along the Mission Creek strand (
    San Bernardino, Callifornia debris flows, 1999
    (8 pictures)
  • The winter storms of January and February 2005 triggered widespread landslide activity in the Southern California region. On March 16 and 17, 2005, Mark Reid and Jonathan Godt of the U.S. Geological Survey's Landslide Hazards Program and Pam Irvine of the California Geological Survey, performed an aerial reconnaissance to assess the regional distribution of recent landslides and identify areas with exceptional concentrations of landsliding. The aerial reconnaissance extended from the Ventura-Santa Barbara County line to northern San Diego County. The photographs shown provide a preliminary overview of landsliding in the region, but are not a comprehensive inventory of either landslides that occurred that winter season or of damage caused by landslides.
    Landslides in Southern California, 2005
    (28 pictures)
  • The October 2, 1978 Bluebird Canyon landslide in Orange CountyCalifornia cost, $52.7 million (2000 dollars) 60 houses destroyed or damaged. Unusually heavy rains in March of 1978 may have contributed to initiation of the landslide. Although the 1978 slide area was approximately 3.5 acres, it is suspected to be a portion of a larger, ancient landslide. A large, translational landslide, called the Laguna Beach, CA landslide occurred in June, 2005. This landslide severely damaged or destroyed 19 homes, and resulted in the evacuation of 345 homes. There were no serious injuries or loss of life. The 2005 landslide is located about 200 feet east of the 1978 Bluebird Canyon landslide
    Laguna Beach and Blue Bird, CA Landslides
    (14 pictures)
  • This event occurred on October 4, 2007. A landslide, perhaps first indicated in July by cracks appearing in pavement and homes along Soledad Mountain Road, struck suddenly when a massive slab of hillside broke loose, sending tons of dirt cascading toward streets below.
    La Jolla (Mt. Soledad) Landslide, California, 2007
    (8 pictures)
  • La Conchita is a small seaside community along Highway 101 south of Santa Barbara. This landslide and debris flow occurred in the spring of 1995. Many people were evacuated because of the slide and the houses nearest the slide were completely destroyed. This area also experienced debris flows which damaged a banana plantation. No one was killed or injured. For photos of the more recent, 2005 La Conchita Landslide please see this photo album: http://landslides.usgs.gov/learning/photos/california__u.s._/the_2005_la_conchita__california_landslide
    La Conchita, CA, 1995
    (5 pictures)
  • Ferguson-Hwy 140 Rockslide, CA along the Merced River about 8 miles west of El Portal and the entrance of Yosemite National Park - 2006
    Ferguson Rockslide, Near Yosemite National Park, CA
    (5 pictures)
  • Wildland fires are inevitable in the western United States. Expansion of man-made developments into fire-prone wildlands has created situations where wildfires can destroy lives and property, as can the flooding and debris flows that are common in the aftermath of the fires. Fast-moving, highly destructive debris flows triggered by intense rainfall are one of the most dangerous post-fire hazards. Such debris flows are particularly dangerous because they tend to occur with little warning. Their mass and speed make them particularly destructive: debris flows can strip vegetation, block drainages, damage structures, and endanger human life. For more information on the USGS Landslide Program Wild-fire/Debris Flow Project, please see: http://landslides.usgs.gov/research/wildfire/
    Debris Flows in Wildfire-Burned Areas
    (11 pictures)
  • A series of storms in the latter part of December 1996 and the first week in January 1997 caused flooding and erosion in the Sierra Nevada and adjacent Central Valley. One of the larger landslides triggered by this climatic event was the Sourgrass debris flow. The debris flow occurred at about 6:30 pm on January 1, 1997. The U.S. Geological Survey noted this slope movement during an aerial reconnaissance of the central Sierra Nevada after the New Years storm. The debris flow is also known as the Dorrington debris flow (For more information please see a U.S. Geological Survey report online: http://landslides.usgs.gov/recent/archives/1997sierra.php).
    Central Sierra Nevada Mountains (Known as Dorrington or Sourgrass debris flow), 1997
    (4 pictures)
  • Anzar Road, CA, landslide, which occurred in 1998. There was $200,000 DIRECT damages to this house and also, $10 - $12 million in INDIRECT damages. This same landslide severed Pacific Gas And Electic (PG&E) gasline, witch resulted in a 3-day gas interruption to the city of Santa Cruz, CA, which in turn caused a loss of business to city restaurants and other businesses, road repairs to fix damage occurring replacing gasline, and re-lighting several hundred gas pilot lights.
    Aromas, CA, 1998
    (4 pictures)