ON THE POTENTIAL DANGER OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF LANDSLIDE PROCESSES IN THE AREA OF ZABALA, ECUADOR

The subject of research was the characteristics of the slopes and the processes acting as factors of the formation of landslides. The aim of the work was to analyze the potential danger of the development of landslide processes in the Zabala sector, in the equatorial Andes. The morphometric method was used. It is established that the slopes with angles of inclination up to 15 ° constitute 27,8 % of the investigated area. Angles of inclination from 15 ° to 25 ° make 28,7 % of the area. From 25 ° to 45 ° - 40,8 %; and over 45 ° - 2,7 %. The factors that increase the risk of landslide development in the studied area are: steep angles of inclination of the surface, earthquakes, gully erosion, trimming of the lower part of the slope. The results of the work can be applied for assessment of geomorphological risks.