Did You Know: 6 Earthquakes >9.0 Since 1952

Since 1952, there are six earthquakes similarly sized or larger than the 9.0 earthquake that hit Japan:

• 9.0 2011 East coast of Honshu, Japan
• 9.1 2004 West Coast of Northern Sumatra
• 9.0 1952 Kamchatka earthquake,
• 9.1 1957 Andreanof Islands, Alaska
• 9.5 1960 Chile earthquake
• 9.2 1964 Prince William Sound, Alaska

All of these earthquakes were mega-thrust events, occurring where one tectonic plate subducts beneath another. All produced destructive tsunamis.

Did You Know: The Pacific Rim Has Most Major Earthquakes

That’s where Japan is located. The ‘Pacific Rim’ are nations located along the edge of the Pacific Ocean. Here’s a list of the major earthquakes since 1900 (credit: USGS) and their locations:

Largest earthquakes since 1900

Major earthquakes since 1900 located along the Pacific Rim

Google Earth KML