What is quicksand. Quicksand: what kind of natural phenomenon? There is a chance to get out of quicksand

The most insidious quicksand In Alaska there is a fjord 60 kilometers long, consisting of quicksand. On different continents, there are sea beaches, which at high tide turn into a muddy mess that sucks everything in a row. Stripes of sandy beaches along the shores From the book 3333 tricky questions and answers author Kondrashov Anatoly Pavlovich

What is quicksand and why is it dangerous? There are many cases when people became victims of the so-called quicksand. It is easy to see something mystical in the ability of ordinary-looking sand to suddenly swallow objects on its surface,

*Golden Sands A gently curved strip of golden sand, 4 km long and in some places more than 100 m wide, gave the name to the resort *Golden Sands (Zlatni Piasci) (10). The coast here is almost flat and forms a vast shallow water, and the sea is usually calm and completely devoid of currents, which

The phenomenon of quicksand in most people is associated with terrible pictures of a person being pulled deep into the abyss.

Many see mysticism in this, tie the influence of cosmic or otherworldly forces. But how does everything really happen and is quicksand really so dangerous? How are they formed and how not to become a victim of this natural phenomenon?

Physical explanation and types of quicksand

The depth of quicksand can reach several meters, and may be only a few centimeters. From the point of view of physics, the explanation for quicksand is very simple and depends on the ratio and interaction of sand and water.

Sand grains are enveloped in water, and a film forms around them. There is air between the grains of sand, but with an increase in the amount of water, the air is displaced, and a mixture of sand and water is formed, the properties of which differ significantly from the mixture of sand, water and air.

There are two types of these sands:

1. With a wet surface. They are found on the shores of lakes, rivers, seas, where rising springs often come across. On top there may be a thin crust of silt formed from a fine fraction of sand.

2. With a dry surface. Found in deserts and rocky areas.

The reason is the source of water
A prerequisite for the formation of quicksand is a large source of water, which is located at a depth of several meters, and sometimes several tens of meters.

These springs provoke shedding of sand. In most cases, they try to break out with great force, rising as close to the surface as possible and enveloping individual grains of sand with water.

Thus, a loose sandy mass impregnated with water is formed, which for some time retains its balance. When any object hits here, the structure collapses, and physical forces try to push back the displaced sand.

Suction occurs. The question arises: can any source of water cause quicksand? Such a source can be one that moves in an inclined horizontal direction or almost in a vertical direction.

It is sometimes impossible to determine the location of such sand. From above, it looks quite reliable and there is no doubt whether it is possible to move on such a surface. Grass and flowers can grow here, however, if there is a similar sand formation in a rocky area, it is better to bypass it.

It is simply impossible to check whether a nearby source of water provoked the appearance of quicksand.

Is it possible to get out?

Statistics show that tragic incidents involving falling into quicksand are very common. Why is it so difficult or almost impossible to get out of the whirlpool of sand?

The fact is that it is very viscous, so any sudden movements cause even more resistance, despite the fact that the density of quicksand is only one and a half times greater than the density of water.

You can get out of the elements only if you move very smoothly, or even better, try to lie on your back, freeing your legs, and thus, as it were, float on the sand. In this case, you can keep the balance certain time and wait for the rescuers to arrive.

In response to the sharpness, the sand mass seems to harden. Independent attempts to pull out, for example, a leg form a rarefaction of air. There is a huge force pulling the leg back. The effort required to lift a leg can be compared to the weight of a car.

In dry sand, everything is different: a person buried even up to his neck can gradually get out of it on his own, because when moving slowly, air first enters the free space, and then grains of sand fill the niche. In quicksand, there is no such air, and the suspension is comparable in consistency to jelly, and the slowly moving mass does not have time to fill the resulting cavity, forming a vacuum.

Other causes

Quicksand occurs most often not in deserts, as many people think, but in rocky areas and in areas of frequent tides. A well-known area with dangerous tides is the Bay of Morecambe, in particular the city of Arnside, located in England. At low tide, the bottom quickly dries up and becomes a trap.

The tide rises ten meters and covers everything that is in the zone of quicksand.

Another reason for the appearance of quicksand can be static charges arising from the mutual friction of sand grains. Since they are all charged in the same way, the cohesion is weakened and the surface becomes unstable. Quicksand is found in Canada, on the islands of the Caribbean, in England. There is a place in Alaska where the territory with treacherous sands stretches for 80 km, and not far from here there is a special rescue service in case someone falls into the trap of nature.

Terrible is Nature in her wrath. In her arsenal - rivers of boiling lava, giant waves tsunamis, devastating earthquakes, bottomless swamps, floods. There is another terrible weapon. These are quicksands, which have long been called "dry swamps".

Quicksand Legends

They scare children and travelers, they are told by old people instead of bedtime stories. Only unlike fictional stories, quicksand is a terrible reality that people living on the coasts most often face. Imagine: a storm, a ship in distress, desperate people. And suddenly, in the distance, the shore is the hope of salvation. With great difficulty, the ship approaches, but the cries of "hurrah" are replaced by exclamations of horror. The ship begins to slowly sink into the coastal sand. People try to save themselves, but, alas, few succeed.

Such cases, although they were not rare, but still almost all were counted. But the number of people who disappeared during walks cannot be counted at all. The sand underfoot suddenly turns into a trap, a person panics, begins to flounder and drowns.

Where are the most dangerous places with quicksand?

This is the Goodwin Shoals on the South Foreland. The second name is "Cemetery of ships". It looks intimidating: the skeletons and sides, randomly scattered along the coast, are covered with sand. Elsewhere, only the tip of the mast can be seen. A gloomy spectacle.

Alaska
This is Tarnagen Fjord.

Jamaica
This is the place where the city of Port Royal once stood, which disappeared in the 17th century. The original version - in 1692 there was an earthquake. The impact of the elements was powerful, the tidal wave destroyed the city, and the sea swallowed it. In 1992, scientists were able to prove that the city really drowned, but not in water. He's another victim of quicksand.

Caribbean Islands

Coast of Canada
In principle, quicksand can be found anywhere there is water, sand, and rocks. That is, the shores of lakes and seas, as well as large rivers, can be considered dangerous. On the outskirts of deserts, you can also fall into a trap arranged by quicksand.

How is quicksand formed?

If you remember school physics lessons, you can easily find the clue to the formation of quicksand. The phenomenon of this phenomenon lies in the ratio of the amount of sand and water, as well as their interaction. What does dry (and therefore safe) sand consist of? From countless grains of sand and air. What happens if you add water here? Water will begin to envelop each grain of sand, and a film will form around it. Since there are tiny dust particles on the sand grains, the cementing process begins, in which they take an active part. This is how a completely new substance is formed - viscous and very viscous.

So, in order for ordinary sand to turn into a quick danger, it needs to be wetted.. A bucket of water will not help, a constant source of water is needed, and the larger it is, the more terrible the danger. In coastal places it is a tidal wave. The rest are underground springs. The depth of the source is different. If the mass of sand is large, then the estimated depth can reach forty meters. Moreover, only such water sources that are practically in a vertical position or slightly inclined are suitable for creating fluctuations. On the surface, everything looks quite harmless: sand, here and there pebbles, a couple of bushes. Without special instruments, it is impossible to determine whether there is water in this place, whether the sand is wet, and what is the extent of the danger.

And the water at this time works, constantly wetting the layers of sand, provokes its shedding. From above, this process is invisible, even specialists cannot determine it. But it is worth getting here any heavy object, and the trap works. Begins the process of suction, pulling deep.

How to check if there is quicksand in this place?

It's better not to. Don't know the area? Walk around the pleasant sand for bare feet. This measure is desirable everywhere and mandatory for those places where the trap has worked at least once. Usually in such areas there is a rescue service and there are warning signs.

Any chance of getting out of the quicksand?

The answer is unequivocal - yes. And now the big BUT. Only those who know what and how to do and will not be at a loss, that is, will be able not to panic, have a chance.

The actions are simple: lie on your back, try to spread your arms and legs, that is, take as much as possible more space. If you shrink into a ball, then the weight will press on one place, and the body will begin to sink faster. Usually both legs are the first to fall into the trap, sometimes one gets stuck - this can be considered a real success. Lying on your back, arms outstretched, you need to slowly, without sudden movements, pull out your legs. The process can take up to an hour, but be patient and persevere - your life is worth it. After you free your legs, you need to determine where you came from. There, on that side, is a safe hard surface. Row there, and, in the truest sense of the word. Swim across the sand and best on your back. You can not? Carefully roll over onto your stomach and, pushing off with your arms and legs, “swim”. And remember: any sudden movement - and you will be pulled into the sand.

Quicksand is a unique phenomenon, just like all other inventions of Nature.