Let $X\to Y$ be a $d:1$ ramified covering map from a smooth complex projective variety $X$ to a smooth complex projective variety $Y$. >**Question 1.** What does the smoothness imply on the branch locus in $X$ or its image in $Y$? Does it imply that its a normal crossing? >**Question 2.** If not, assuming $Y=\mathbb{P}^n$, can we always deform $X$ to get a normal-crossing branch locus in $\mathbb{P}^n$ (or at least for its preimage in $X$)? *Comment 1.* Regarding the nice answer of Tony, you may assume $X$ is simply-connected. *Comment 2.* By normal crossing, I mean the reduced branch locus to be normal crossing.