How might a naturally-occuring geographical barrier between two areas *suddenly* become permeable so that a few people can cross it?
The world is Earth, probably west coast of the USA, in the throes of severe climate disaster; major storms, earthquakes, droughts, fires and floods are the norm.
I am looking for a way to suddenly alter the geographical landscape so that a natural border that keeps people out suddenly becomes easily permeable to a few. I imagined the following: a mountain splits (like a log being split) due to an earthquake, thus creating a pass where none existed before, but I'm not sure if that's actually possible. Is it? Open to other suggestions as well! Thank you.
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1 answer
Drought.
Basing this on your explanatory comment:
Most roads have been destroyed (mudslides, earthquakes, floods), cars are a thing of the past, water is scarce.
Drought will lower the level of lakes and rivers. While the levels won't change super quickly, they still have tides (larger lakes have their own tides and rivers connected to the ocean sometimes do). So levels go up and down during the day.
Sometimes a very small change in water depth can make a big change to the surrounding land. It might only take 1-2 inches of change to turn a lake or sea surrounded by impassable cliffs into water surrounded by a pathway alongside impassible cliffs.
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