Geomorphic evidence of ancient catastrophic flow type landslides in the mid-mountain ridges of the Western Flysch Carpathian Mountains (Czech Republic)

Abstract

Ancient flow type landslides are relatively frequent fossil forms of the relief in mid-mountain conditions of the Czech Carpathian Mountains. Sixty rather distinctive displays of debris flows, rock avalanches, and debris avalanches have been mapped in the uppermost part of the territory. Unlike contemporary sporadic and low volume debris flows, ancient (Pleistocene and Lower Holocene) accumulations are a few orders of magnitude more extensive and were of considerable geomorphologic significance in forming the steep sections of mountain valleys and slopes. This geomorphic pattern does not hold for flow type slides, the source of which is material released as a consequence of numerous deep-seated landslides. Due to deep disruption of slopes, a few high-magnitude flow type landslides (e.g., rock avalanches), quite rare in flysch mid-mountain conditions, also occurred in the Late Holocene.