The Alps conjure images of picturesque peaks draped in snow and dotted with cozy lodges. And while these gorgeous mountains support a range of recreation activities, they can also turn deadly. An average of 100 people die in Europe each year from avalanches.
Avalanches occur when a layer of snowpack begins to separate from the slope its resting on and slides downhill. The sliding snow becomes a flowing river of snow, ice, rocks, and debris that can race downhill at more than 200 miles per hour. Factors like vegetation, wind, temperature, and activity can all influence an avalanche. But slope is the most critical factor, with slopes between 30 and 45 degrees the most prone to avalanches.
This map from Athina Georgiadi, Jakub Kaczorowski, Kseniia Nifontova, and Itay Swid shows avalanche risk in the Daschstein area of the Austrian Alps. It combines data from European Avalanche Warning Services, OpenStreetMap, and the Austrian Geoportal to highlight avalanche-prone slopes.
The map uses two main techniques to tell its story. One is perspective. Unlike a top-down, 2D view, this map shows this area of the Alps in three dramatic dimensions. Drawn to reflect the panoramic view of someone in Ramsau am Dachstein looking north, it immediately highlights the slope and terrain of the mountains. The use of 3D makes the map more legible and brings the mountains’ topography to life.
The other is color. Drawn in an imposing monochrome, the mountains become a neutral canvas for identifying avalanche-prone slopes. Areas in light red have a slope between 30 and 38 degrees, while dark red shows slopes between 38 and 45 degrees. Gold lines trace the paths of via ferratas, protected climbing routes that include features like ladders and anchor points to assist climbers.
To further orient viewers, the map identifies the name of each peak, as well as trails, cable car lines, and mountain shelters. It also includes useful information about avalanche risk as well as tips for surviving one. You can even find a QR code that links to the Austrian avalanche warning service, which provides daily updates on conditions.
The map’s creators envisioned this map as a functional tool for adventurers in the Dachstein region. By combining precise 3D topography with deliberate decision choices, they’ve succeeded in creating a map that reflects the beauty—and potential peril—of this swath of the Austrian Alps.
More to Explore
- Learn more about avalanches and what causes them.
- Browse a map of one of the largest ice avalanches ever recorded.
