Quicksand is loose watery
sand that sucks in the
objects or people on top
of it. In movies and fiction, quicksand is depicted as a terrible bottomless
trap from which there is
no escape. However, in reality it is just ordinary sand
that has been so saturated with water that the friction
between sand particles is reduced. Thus, it is a mushy
mixture of sand and water that can no longer support
any weight. It is rarely deeper than a few feet.
The usual location for quicksand is at the mouths of
rivers where fine sand has been deposited on clay, or
around lakes and ponds where a hollow pocket in the
clay shore keeps it wet. One who walks on quicksand
sinks because it cannot support his weight. His move-
ments cause him to dig himself deeper into it. So, if you
happen to fall into a quicksand patch, remember that
thrashing about wildly will not help you. Instead, you
should bring yourself to the surface by slow movements,
then lie still until help arrives.
