Mountain regions are characterised by a variety of natural hazards, many augmented by human modification of the landscape. The smaller disasters, defined as those that occur frequently but that involve smaller impacts, can be managed or guarded against by wise land-use planning or construction of technical defenses. The large catastrophes, those with a very long recurrence interval and great impact magnitudes, such as the examples given here, are beyond human forecast or effective defense. Nevertheless, there is an urgent need to collect and archive all relevant data. Mapping of natural (mountain) hazard potential in areas of high relief should be undertaken whenever possible.
