The dread that comes with the trembling ground below is one of the greatest moments of helplessness one can go through.Known for its humongous surface area and a great attraction of tourists, Alaska is, unfortunately, one of the most earthquake-prone areas or zones anywhere in the world. Scientists have also labeled the state as a major seismically active zone of the world due to its average encounter with 30 earthquakes on a regular basis and recurring mishaps with violent earthquakes and deadly tsunamis.But the greatest Alaskan earthquake dates back to March 27, 1964, when the south-central part of the state experienced an alarming 9.2 on the moment magnitude scale. The figure barely wins from the devastating disaster of the Sumatra-Andaman islands of 2004, making it to the second position in the list of the recorded earthquakes to date. The epicenter of the 1964 Alaska earthquake was located in the Prince William Sound region of the state, and the earthquake waves having covered almost 502,000 sq mi (1,300,000 sq km). The damage had also spread outwards throughout the Alaskan mainland, extending further to reach British Columbia, the Dutch Harbor in the Aleutian Islands, and Seattle, far southeast from the hotspot: all of this in just four to five minutes!At 5:36 p.m., while people of the Alaskan communities were celebrating the auspicious Good Friday, the ground started trembling and simultaneously produced loud crunching and crushing noise. The long four minutes of the great earthquake resulted in ground failure, a phenomenon caused by seismic activity where the ground loses its firmness and behaves like liquid jeopardizing landslides all over the area. Apart from massive property damage, the earthquake brought forth a tectonic tsunami within minutes of shaking. Local tsunamis are often considered inevitable in the coastal towns, but the disturbance in the oceanic floor caused by the alteration of the Pacific plate and the North American plate was beyond anticipation. The effect of the tsunamis even reached California and scientists concluded that this seismic activity made the Earth ‘ring’ like a bell for several days.Keep reading to find the prime cause of this incident and what happened in Alaska after the 1964 earthquake damage. Also, take a look at these 1994 Northridge earthquake facts and 1969 moon landing facts for more such information!The Reason The Earthquake HappenedThe lapse in the subduction zone, aka the zone where two tectonic plates meet and coexist on top of one another, of the Pacific Plate and the North American Plate, caused the 1964 Alaska earthquake to be as threatening as it was. The point at which the North American Plate climbed on top of the Pacific Plate created a subduction zone and thereby caused a huge crash.The Earth’s lithosphere is broken into several fragments that scientists have termed tectonic plates for better analyzing the planet. These tectonic plates are always in motion, either moving away or towards each other. In 1964, Alaska witnessed a converging tectonic plate movement and finally the overlapping of one over the other, causing the megathrust earthquake to surface up. Hitting a 9.2 magnitude on the Richter scale did not only mean one-time destruction. The ground motion continued long after the earthquake had receded, resulting in aftershocks from that very day to almost a couple of weeks.Largest Earthquake In AlaskaThe Alaska earthquake of 1964 is recorded to be the largest earthquake in Alaska. The earthquake claimed 139 lives, caused havoc with liquefication of the ground, destruction of public and private commodities, and covered almost all of Alaska with its ruthlessness.Though the earthquake is considered to be the greatest in Alaska, tsunamis were much more disastrous. The earthquake jolted the mainland and coasts of the state beyond repair. But what increased the effects of the earthquake exponentially was the underwater landslides causing tsunamis to rush to the land. The death toll is significantly higher considering Alaska’s scarce population. Almost 124 of the 139 deaths were caused by the tsunami; the tsunami damage also included wrecked harbors and extensive flooding. It was estimated to cause an enormous loss of $2.3 billion.Destruction At Valdez, AlaskaThe city of Valdez suffered destruction by ground failure, tsunamis, and a large fire that was inflamed with the oil tanks belonging to Union Oil Company. Shoup Bay, a small body, located close to the Valdez inlet, witnessed the greatest tsunami wave, which was recorded to be more than 200 ft (61 m) in height.The city, along with its port, was wiped out completely during the earthquake and tsunamis of 1964. Valdez, having been built on the grounds of gravel and sand, could not resist the ground liquefaction brought about by seismic waves. Port Valdez also suffered from the loss of valuable resources, including fishing boats, around 32 lives, and a ship that was docked in the boat harbor. Furthermore, an underwater landslide triggered a local tsunami that took away all residue at Valdez.Destruction Compared To Other EarthquakesAlaska earthquake might not weigh so heavily when the earthquake of Sumatra-Indonesia off-coast or the Valdivia Earthquake is also taken into consideration. However, physical and geological losses make the Alaskan earthquake so significant.The number of casualties may seem like a trifle when compared to the Sumatran disaster, but the difference is due to such a steep population density. While the 2004 earthquake and tsunami wreaked havoc on lives, the Good Friday Alaskan earthquake waves disfigured the structural geography of Alaska with its faulty subduction zone, landslides, berserk sea level, and tsunamis. The U.S. Geological Survey, conducted afterward, revealed that the land of Alaska had been altered; for instance, some areas near Kodiak were permanently lifted by 30 feet above the sea level, while some areas southeast of Anchorage were sunken to almost 8 feet. The Million Dollar Bridge at Copper River was also destroyed.Alaska Earthquake AllianceAlaska Earthquake Alliance is a precautionary organization formed by some natives who are on a mission to improve on the available earthquake measures, awareness, and services.The aftermath of the earthquake was devastating. Alaskans, with the help of the Federal government, got to cleaning debris and rebuilding the roads. Scientists have been adamantly tracked tidal gauges, seismic movement, and other such activities to warn of future earthquakes and tsunami.Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for 1964 Alaska Earthquake facts then why not take a look at 1976 UK drought facts or 1989 San Francisco earthquake facts.
The dread that comes with the trembling ground below is one of the greatest moments of helplessness one can go through.
