Final answer:
Avalanche sheds, mounds, berms, splitting wedges, and snow fences are structures designed to slow avalanches and protect areas susceptible to such natural disasters.
Step-by-step explanation:
The structures that are designed to slow avalanches include avalanche sheds, which protect roadways or railways by allowing avalanches to pass over them without interrupting passage; mounds, which can disrupt the flow of the snow; berms, earthen or snow barriers that redirect or halt the progress of an avalanche; splitting wedges, which divide the snow to reduce its power; and snow fences, which control snow drifting and accumulation to prevent the formation of avalanche-prone areas. These structures are part of avalanche control systems that aim to protect people, properties, and critical infrastructure in mountainous regions prone to avalanches.