Today is the 56th anniversary of the great Alaska earthquake. They say it hit at 5:36pm but I think it was a full minute earlier than that. Anyway, the official time is 5:36pm, Friday, 27 March 1964. It registered 9.2 on the Richter scale and the first temblor lasted over 4 minutes. There were more than 100 severe aftershocks.
You could say we were all shook up.
It was the most powerful quake ever recorded in the northern hemisphere and the second most powerful in recorded history. Certain areas rose 10+ meters and some fell 5 to 10 meters. Major tsunami damage was seen as well. The earth movement was enough that the maps of south central Alaska had to be redrawn.
The first pic shows how the north side of 4th Avenue collapsed. At the time, I was working in a print shop across the street on the south side of 4th Avenue just east of E Street.
The second is a shot of one of the homes in the Turnagain area.
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Feel free to reply to any comment by clicking the "Reply" button.Going through a 5.7 quake here in Salt Lake City last week was unnerving enough, I can’t imagine a 9.2......
Dhiltong
Level 8
Mar 27, 2020
1
A wild ride, yes indeed.
I’m living where I am due to the pending subduction quake poised to (yet again) destroy the west coast - from BC Canada to Mendocino (Ridge) CA. Every 300 to 350 years was the most accurate time-span between the twelve discovered to have happened prior. It’s expected to be 9+ at the subduction point, and a solid 8 in both Portland and Seattle.
The last occured in the Winter of 1700, they’re now in the zone…
Love geology, thus am loving life on the Blue Ridge Plateau (the answer to a Google Search for: ‘most geologically stable location in continental USA.’ Out West - it’s The Ring of Fire! Have a couple adult daughters planning on escaping the zone, one day..
Alaska’s got such amazing geological activity, they’ve not figured it out! Portions of plates actually twist one direction - then back the other… Faults & quakes everywhere! North America is shoving it’s way west ...as what’s left of the Juan de Fuca Plate (now smallest in the world) continues to subduct.. It’s where all the Cascade volcanoes came/ come from.
[a big deal subject, to me] Came to learn California is safer than safe in comparison to the PNW. The infamous San Andreas Fault actually jets into the Pacific at Mendocino, CA’s northwestern ‘bump out.’ Folks, family & friends back home choose to ignore my concern and warning … so I’ve long since stopped mentioning it.. Was thinking here recently, though, what we’re experiencing everywhere right now will seem like peanuts when that plate next snaps; aftershocks for years.. It’ll actually slow the rotation of the planet! Damn
Varn
Level 8
Mar 27, 2020
1
@Varn -- I left Alaska that summer (not because of the quake) and returned in '67. I went to work for the Alaska State Housing Authority as a public information officer and had the opportunity and privilege to work extensively with Dr. Lidia Selkregg, the state geologist.
We have a network of slip-strike, normal, and thrust faults as a result of being at that junction in the plates and the Aleutian subduction zone. It is a fascinating place. There on on average 12,000 temblors per year in the state.
As for living in Alaska, people live there in spite of the quakes, which are frequent and often of some magnitude. Alaska is what it is because of its geology and latitude. I wouldn't have lived there if it were anything other than what it is. I think that is probably true for most folks who actually live there on a year round basis. I suppose some go with the idea that they'll take up living like anywhere else, but they don't last long. As for me, I loved it and would not have left except for contract obligations and a military stint.
I was planning a trip up for this summer with my kids, and their kids so they can see why the old man is the way he is, walk on a glacier, explore some ice tunnels, catch some salmon, flirt with the grizzlies, and pan for gold in my old claim. You know, the usual stuff.
Wow, a very severe event and it must be a profound experience. Glad to know you did ok.
St-Sinner
Level 9
Mar 27, 2020
1
We were lucky. Weather was unseasonably warm. I was getting into my car about a block from work when it hit. What a ride.
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