Earthquake facts

• Earthquakes in Alaska (map)
• History of Alaska earthquakes
• Earthquakes are caused by plate movement

• Three ways plates move
• Measuring an earthquake
• Magnitudes and intensity scales
 

Alaska earthquake statistics

Each year about 5,000 to 6,000 earthquakes shake the state of Alaska. That's an average of more than 13 each day!

  • Alaska has 11 percent of the world's earthquakes
  • Alaska has 52 percent of all the earthquakes in the United States.
  • Three of the six largest earthquakes in the world were in Alaska.
  • Seven of the ten largest earthquakes in the United States were in Alaska.
Since 1900, Alaska has had an average of:
  • One magnitude 8 or larger earthquake every 13 years.
  • One magnitude 7 to 8 earthquake every year.
  • Four and a half magnitude 6 to 7 earthquakes per year.
  • Twenty magnitude 5 to 6 earthquakes per year.
  • Ninety magnitude 4 to 5 earthquakes per year.
 Alaska map
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