The Vajont Valley (Eastern Alps): A Complex Landscape Deeply Marked by Landsliding

On 9th October 1963 the Vajont Valley was strongly modified due to a world known landslide, which claimed the lives of almost 2000 people. At that time a huge amount of material collapsed into an artificial reservoir generating a water wave, which overtopped the dam destroying seven villages in the Piave River Valley. The landslide accumulation filled the valley blocking its drainage that is now guaranteed by a by-pass built soon after a previous smaller landslide occurred on 4th November 1960. However, the whole valley has been affected by a series of landslides, which buried ancient glacial and fluvial landforms sealing and preserving them. The chapter is therefore not only focusing on the Vajont Landslide, but also on other gravitational, glacial and fluvial landforms, which are crucial for the reconstruction of the post-glacial geomorphological evolution.