Natural Phenomena - Part 1

Alaska Natural Phenomena - Earthquakes

Alaska sits at the intersection of the Pacific plate and the North American plate, making it a prime spot for earthquake activity.

Alaska Earthquake Statistics:

• The largest magnitude earthquake in the U.S. (9.2) occurred in Alaska in 1964; the epicenter was in Prince William Sound about 90 miles south of Anchorage; many Alaska towns were devastated by either the earthquake or the tsunamis that followed
• By contrast, the famous San Francisco earthquake of 1906 was a 7.8 magnitude; however this and other earthquakes caused more loss of property and injury due to occurring in populated areas
  
• 9 of the top 10 (and 15 of the top 20) earthquakes in the U.S. have been in Alaska
• There are an average of 50-100 earthquakes in Alaska daily!
• Alaska Earthquake Information Center locates and report about 22,000 earthquakes each year

Prince William Sound 1964 Earthquake: