An Earthquake occurs when two tectonic plates slide past each other. It causes millions of deaths and is one of the most scariest natural disasters known to man. It happens out of nowhere and can be survived if prepared for.
Earthquake facts
Earthquakes kill approximately 8,000 people each year and have caused an estimated 13 million deaths in the past 4,000 years.
In Japan mythology, a giant catfish called Namazu is responsible for earthquakes.
An average earthquake lasts around a minute.
Nearly 2,000 years ago, a Chinese astronomer named Zhang Heng (A.D. 78-139) invented the world’s first earthquake detector. It could detect earthquakes more than 370 miles (600 km) away.
Aftershocks occur because the displaced fault line and crust are adjusting to the effects of the main earthquake. Larger earthquakes can have aftershocks that last for years.
Earthquakes are mostly caused by geological faults, but they can also be caused by landslides, nuclear testing, mine tests, and volcanic activity
In ancient Greece, people believed that the god of the sea, Poseidon, caused earthquakes. When he was angry, Poseidon would strike the ground with his trident and set off an earthquake. His unpredictable, violent behavior earned him the nickname “Earth-Shaker.”
In Hindu mythology, Earth is held in place by eight gigantic elephants, all balanced on the back of turtle, which itself stands on the coils of a snake. If any of these animals shift or move, an earthquake occurs.
The 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake lasted nearly 10 minutes—the longest on record.
There are about 1,300,000 earthquakes per year (two per day) with magnitudes of 2.9 or lower.