[ a v a l a n c h e s : p r e p a r a t i o n ] [ format this
page for printing ] Avalanche breakers are huge mounds of rock
and dirt at the bottoms of slopes. These piles can turn aside an
avalanche and keep it from rushing into villages and homes in
the valley. Other types of breakers are V-shaped walls of dirt,
six feet thick and sixteen feet high. The point of the V faces
uphill, so it can split an avalanche in two and force snow to
either side. The legs of the V are made 300 to 400 feet long,
and can protect entire towns. Another type of dirt wall is a
single barrier placed at a slight angle to an avalanche path.
This can also deflect snow aside from inhabited areas. People
who live on mountain slopes must build their houses close
against the base of a mountain. To avoid avalanches, they fill
their backyards with dirt up to roof-level. This way, snow
rushing downhill can pass right over the buildings. Other
structures are built with one wall shaped like the prow of a
ship. This prow faces uphill, so that