However in recent times tourism has boomed in mountain area, and as the popularity of skiing, snowboarding, hiking, climbing and other alpine sports has increased, more outsiders are brought into avalanche risk areas. These people do not appreciate the need for caution when on slopes as much, or at all, as those living nearby. It is these people that put others in danger and who must be educated of the power of avalanches. Hazard Prevention Avalanches are one natural hazard that can be relatively well prevented through the use of many techniques. As mentioned above many ski runs are closed when there is the danger of an avalanche.
Education is also vital to reducing the risk.
A technique used to prevent the start of a major avalanche is artificial avalanche creation. These are good because areas can be closed so that gathering snow can be cleared from the slopes with minimum inconvenience in several smaller avalanches rather than one big, unexpected avalanche. Explosives or missiles fired from large guns can be used to trigger these artificial avalanches. It is preferable though for the snowpack to remain intact. Therefore protective measures are also used to shield settlements, roads and electricity lines from moving snow.