Story: Landslides

Lateral spread

Lateral spread

This is a lateral spread landslide at the locality known as Earthquakes, in the Waitaki Valley, North Otago. The scarp (the line on which the ground has failed) is marked by the green line. The slide has moved from left to right, with the toe of the slide pushing out into the river bed, diverting it to the right. A hard cap rock of limestone collapsed and spread to the right as the soft mudstone beneath it was deformed. The hummocky surface reveals the extent of the landslide surface.

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Photograph by Mike Crozier

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How to cite this page:

Michael J. Crozier, 'Landslides - Hill country, regolith and submarine landslides', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/8793/lateral-spread (accessed 25 April 2024)

Story by Michael J. Crozier, published 12 Jun 2006