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The Otira Gorge Viaduct in New Zealand, that carries a highway that crosses the Southern Alps, has its foundations in a deep layer of talus that has fallen off

The Otira Gorge Viaduct in New Zealand, that carries a highway that crosses the Southern Alps, has its foundations in a deep layer of talus that has fallen off Hills Peak over centuries - that movement of rock being why they built the viaduct to replace the road - as the slope eroded the road had to be moved higher up the slope, adding more switchbacks to the infamous Zig Zag [0]. Plus the falling rock that made the road dangerous. They were determined to hit bedrock, but yeah, was buried too deep. [1] [0]: https://teara.govt.nz/files/p-8788-gns.jpg https://teara.govt.nz/files/p-8788-gns.jpg [1]: https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/117150792/awardwinning-otira-viaduct-near-arthurs-pass-notches-up-two-decades https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/117150792/awardwinning-otir...

quibono 2y ago
TIL New Zealand have their own Alps!
- stonemetal12 2y ago
  Technically "Alps" is the plural of "alp", which means a very high mountain.
  - wongarsu 2y ago
    However "alp" comes from Latin "Alpes", which is the mountain range in Western Europe we now call the Alps. The word has become genericized to a degree. One the other hand Alps used to be one very specific mountain range, and alp a mountain in that mountain range, so surprise at some other place calling their mountain range Alps is understandable.
    - fsckboy 2y ago
      >surprise at some other place calling their mountain range Alps is understandable yes, if you come from Wellington in Suffolk and you fly to Wellington in NZ, and then encounter that the nearby mountains are called Alps, you would be shocked, shocked
- munificent 2y ago
  The North Cascade Mountains in the Pacific Northwest are also sometimes called the "American Alps". (Personally, I think it's a silly name. The Cascades are majestic enough in their own right and need no comparison to any other mountains.)
- pimlottc 2y ago
  Australia, too: The Victorian Alps [0] 0: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Victorian_Alps https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Victorian_Alps
rob74 2y ago
The fascinating thing about the Munich gravel plain is that it's really just a (very slightly inclined) plain - it's almost 100% flat, and the gravel is covered by a (relatively thin) layer of soil, so you could easily mistake it for the typical "lowlands" alluvial plain, and you'll probably be surprised to learn that it's at a height of ~400-700 m. So you don't really have to worry about the gravel moving - but it's still there...

quibono 2y ago

TIL New Zealand have their own Alps!

stonemetal12 2y ago
Technically "Alps" is the plural of "alp", which means a very high mountain.
- wongarsu 2y ago
  However "alp" comes from Latin "Alpes", which is the mountain range in Western Europe we now call the Alps. The word has become genericized to a degree. One the other hand Alps used to be one very specific mountain range, and alp a mountain in that mountain range, so surprise at some other place calling their mountain range Alps is understandable.
  - fsckboy 2y ago
    >surprise at some other place calling their mountain range Alps is understandable yes, if you come from Wellington in Suffolk and you fly to Wellington in NZ, and then encounter that the nearby mountains are called Alps, you would be shocked, shocked
munificent 2y ago
The North Cascade Mountains in the Pacific Northwest are also sometimes called the "American Alps". (Personally, I think it's a silly name. The Cascades are majestic enough in their own right and need no comparison to any other mountains.)
pimlottc 2y ago
Australia, too: The Victorian Alps [0] 0: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Victorian_Alps https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Victorian_Alps

rob74 2y ago

The fascinating thing about the Munich gravel plain is that it's really just a (very slightly inclined) plain - it's almost 100% flat, and the gravel is covered by a (relatively thin) layer of soil, so you could easily mistake it for the typical "lowlands" alluvial plain, and you'll probably be surprised to learn that it's at a height of ~400-700 m. So you don't really have to worry about the gravel moving - but it's still there...