Landslides

In Franconia Notch, landslides have been recorded since 1826, when a large slide at the south end of the lake closed the wagon road for two months. Other slips were reported in 1850 and 1883. In the twentieth century, the Notch was the scene of eight major slides, six of which crossed the highway. In October 1938, the highway east of this viewpoint was buried by 15 feet of earth, trees, and rock. In June 1946, two slides came down within twenty minutes of each other, one at the north end of the lake and the other at the south end; the southern slide covered the highway to a depth of 15 feet and was estimated to contain 10,000 cubic yards of debris. The largest slide in modern times occurred on October 24, 1959, when 200 feet of highway was covered to a depth of 27 feet and required 3 1/2 days of work around the clock to reopen the road. No human deaths have ever been recorded in connection with the slides in Franconia Notch.

Franconia, New Hampshire · United States