Earthquakes. An Earthquake is a sudden and violent shaking of the ground. An earthquake can cause great destrution. Earthquakes are caused by the movements of the tectonic plates. When tectonic plates collide or slide under or against each other they create a tremendous force of energy which results in an earthquake.
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Magnitude Earthquake Effects Estimated Number/per year
-2.5 or less Usually not felt, but can be recorded by 900,000
a seismograph.
-2.5 to 5.4 Often felt, but only causes minor 30,000
damage.
-5.5 to 6.0 Slight damage to buildings and other 500
structures.
-6.1 to 6.9 May cause a lot of damage in very populated 100
areas.
-7.0 to 7.9 is considered a Major earthquake. 20
Serious damage.
-8.0 or greater can totally destroy communities near one every 5
the epicenter. to 10 years
-2.5 or less Usually not felt, but can be recorded by 900,000
a seismograph.
-2.5 to 5.4 Often felt, but only causes minor 30,000
damage.
-5.5 to 6.0 Slight damage to buildings and other 500
structures.
-6.1 to 6.9 May cause a lot of damage in very populated 100
areas.
-7.0 to 7.9 is considered a Major earthquake. 20
Serious damage.
-8.0 or greater can totally destroy communities near one every 5
the epicenter. to 10 years
Top Three states in the U.S with the most earthquakes.
Alaska Alaska experiences an average of 12,000 earthquakes a year. Most of the earthquakes are big. They range from magnitudes of 5-7. The biggest earthquake recorded in Alaska was in 1962, and it was an enormous 9.2 magnitude earthquake that caused a tsunami.
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CaliforniaCalifornia experiences an average of 10,000 earthquakes a year. Most earthquakes that occur in California are minor. Only about 15-20 earthquakes are greater than a 4.0 magnitude. The biggest earthquake in California was back in 1857 in Fort, Tejon, it was a 7.9 magnitude earthquake.
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HawaiiHawaii experiences thousands of earthquakes per year beneath the Hawaii Island. The biggest earthquake recorded Hawaii was back in 1868, and it was a 7.9 magnitude earthquake that led to a tsunami and the death of 77 people.
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