2 SNOW AVALANCHES

For alpine countrics, avalanchcs represent one of the major hazards, threatening pcople in villages as well as on highways and railways. Mcasurcs have to be taken to reduce avalanche n s k Avalanche hazard mapping as a basis for land use planning is one of the most cost-effective measures to reduce or even avoid avalanche exposure. In many situations, tcchnical mcasurcs such as supporting structures and deflecting dams, or short-term measures such as avalanche forccasting, artificial avalanche release or evacuation might be the action of choice to reduce the avalanche risk to an acceptable level. It is important to evaluate the different measures within the frame of an overail risk management procedure. In the European Alps expanding settlements and increasing mobility due to tourism lead to a growing number of constructions in terrain threatened by avalanches. Eleven million people liv