12 Interesting Facts About Earthquakes

An earthquake (also known as a tremor, quake, or temblor) is the shaking of the earth’s surface caused by a sudden release of energy in the earth’s lithosphere, which produces seismic waves.This shaking can cause structural damage, such as building collapse, as well as further deterioration of the earth’s surface. Many earthquakes can occur in a small area in a short period of time.

1. There are over 15 to 20 moving tectonic plates in the earth’s crust known as the lithosphere. The continuous motion of these tectonic plates causes a steady build-up of pressure in the rock strata on both sides of a fault until the stress is sufficiently great that it is released in a sudden. When this pressure is released, earthquakes occur.
2. There is no known scientific way of predicting earthquakes. However, Seismographs are the instruments used to record the motion of the ground during an earthquake.
3. On 16 December 1811, the Mississippi River flowed backward as a result of an earthquake!
4. Earthquakes can cause fires when the damage they do breaks electrical or gas lines.
5. Earthquakes are mainly caused due to fault lines, but they can also occur due to landslides, nuclear testing, and other volcanic activities.
6. There are over 55 earthquakes that occur every day. These earthquakes are mainly of low intensity.
7. There are about 20,000 earthquakes that occur every year. There are millions of low-intensity earthquakes that happen every year, which we can. According to records, scientist estimates 16 major earthquakes occur every year out of which 15 can be of magnitude seven range, and one could be of 8.0 magnitude or greater.
8. About 90 percent of the earthquakes occur in the ring of fire. This ring of fire is basically a path along the Pacific Ocean characterized by active volcanoes and frequent earthquakes. Its length is approximately 40,000 kilometers (24,900 miles).
9. Valdivia Earthquake that happened in Chile in the year 1960 is the highest intensity earthquake of recorded history. The earthquake was of magnitude 9.5 and claimed 5700 lives.
10. Quake on the moon will be called a moonquake. Whereas on Mars, it will be called a marsquake.
11. According to the data EM-DAT International Disaster Database, Since 1990, around 27000 people lose their lives because of earthquakes every year.
12. Generally, an earthquake typically lasts 10 to 30 seconds. Readjustments in the earth cause more earthquakes which are called aftershocks. It can occur intermittently for weeks or months.