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Landslides usually involve the movement of large amounts of either earth, rock, sand or mud or any combination of these.

Landslides can be caused by earthquakes, volcanoes, soil saturation from rainfall or seepage or by human activity (eg. vegetation removal, construction on steep terrain).

The rate of movement of a landslide can vary from exceptionally slow - centimetres per year, to a sudden and total collapse - such as an avalanche of perhaps millions of tonnes of debris.

The distance travelled by landslide debris can also vary greatly, from a few centimetres in 'ground slumps', to many kilometres when large mud flows follow river valleys.