The Vajont Landslide: an overview of 60 years of research

The Vajont Landslide, one of the most catastrophic events in history, has been extensively studied for over 60 years. Navigating the extensive Vajont literature presents challenges due to the volume of information, persistent questions, ongoing controversies, and even unreliable information. This review offers a novel synthesis by identifying the most influential hypotheses through the lens of updated geomorphological reconstructions, evolving interpretations of the sliding surface, and conflicting assumptions. It highlights how certain long-held assumptions may have led to biased conclusions, presents a concise dataset of key geotechnical parameters, and stresses the need for future analyses that integrate rainfall and reservoir effects over time, account for possible progressive strength degradation, and revisit slope stability under more realistic boundary conditions. By clarifying closed questions and spotlighting persistent uncertainties, this paper aims to guide future research and reframe understanding of the Vajont landslide.