The Winter of Terror was one of the worst periods in the history of the Alps, and one that saw a cascade of avalanches along the Austro-Swiss alpine border claimed over 265 human lives, and destroyed large areas of residential properties and other man-made structures in Austria and Switzerland alike as well. Both countries also lost thousands of acres of commercially valuable forests in the disaster. An unusual set of weather events is held responsible for the Winter of Terror. The tragic events occurred within a three month period in the winter of 1950-1951.
|