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According to the ever-helpful How Stuff Works, quicksand is solid ground that's been liquefied, usually by an underground water source. A soupy mix of sand and water, quicksand is usually only a few feet deep. It can be found anywhere that land and water meet, including beaches, marshes, and ponds. Quicksand is rarely found in deserts, due to the lack of water. It's also not a specific kind of soil -- any area of ground that has been sufficiently soaked with water to the point where it can't support weight can become quicksand. Earthquakes often temporarily liquefy soil, leading to serious structural damage. Contrary to popular belief, a run-in with a patch
of quicksand doesn't spell certain doom. As the Worst-Case Scenario Survival Handbook reminds us, your body is still less dense than quicksand. While struggling may drag you in deeper, relaxing and floating on your back should do the trick.
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