Increase in the absorption length of inclined extensive air showers

The dependence of the number of extensive air showers with an energy above $10^{18}$ eV on the zenith angle $\theta$ is obtained in groups with a constant solid-angle step. The number of showers first decreases with an increase in the zenith angle and then, after reaching $\sim 50^{\circ}$, increases strongly. With increasing energy, the kink on the dependence of the number of showers on $\theta$ is displaced towards larger angles, i.e., in the direction corresponding to the shift of the depth of the cascade-curve maximum.