Whenever we hear the name of an earthquake, we get scared. When an earthquake comes, everything starts shaking. When an earthquake of high intensity occurs, buildings collapse which causes a large number of lives and property to suffer. Earthquake is a geological phenomenon in which very high-potential energy is generated when the Earth’s inner plates collide, causing vibrations to be felt on the Earth’s surface.
Millions of people have lost their lives due to earthquakes worldwide. After all, what is the real reason for the earthquake and what are the facts that we have not read? Today we will inform you of some similar facts related to earthquakes.
When the upper surface of the earth shakes, it is called an earthquake. The main reason for earthquakes can be the sliding of tectonic plates, volcanic eruptions, nuclear explosions, and the digging of mines, etc.
Do you know that every year about 5 lakh earthquakes occur on the earth, out of which only 1 lakh earthquakes can be felt? Out of 1 lakh earthquakes, only 100 earthquakes are such that they bring devastating holocaust.
- The most devastating earthquake to date occurred in Chile in 1960, whose its intensity was recorded at 9.5.
- In 1811, due to a tremendous earthquake, the Mississippi River flowing in North America started flowing in the opposite direction.
- The most dangerous avalanche ever caused by an earthquake came in Peru in 1970. This avalanche came at a speed of about 400 km per hour. Due to this avalanche, the whole village was destroyed and about 18 thousand people were killed in it.
- Parkfield, California is called “The Earthquake Capital of the World”. Actually, Parkfield is located at such a place where two tectonic plates connect with each other.
- The starting point of an earthquake is called the focus or HypoCenter (underground focus point of the earthquake).
- On December 26, 2004, an earthquake in Indonesia caused a deluge tsunami in the Indian Ocean. About 2 lakh 30 thousand people lost their lives in this.
- On August 15, 1950, 780 people lost their lives in a devastating earthquake in Tibet.
- In ancient Greece, people believed that earthquakes were caused by Poseidon, the god of the sea. They used to say that when the gods get angry, they strike the ground with their tridents, which makes the earth tremble.
- The most dangerous landslide so far due to the earthquake came in the Kansu province of China in 1920. About 2 lakh people were killed due to the landslide.
- On January 31, 1906, an earthquake of magnitude 8.8 occurred in Ecuador. This caused a tsunami there. This natural disaster put at least 500 people to death here.
- Pagoda-shaped houses are built to protect against earthquakes.
- Plate tectonics theory was developed in the middle of the 20th century. The formulation of this theory is considered to have started with the discovery of ocean floor spreading by Harry Hess.
- Richter scale is used to measure the intensity of earthquakes and this instrument is also called Richter Magnitude Test Scale. Earthquake waves are measured on the basis of the Richter scale from 1 to 9.
- In 1935, Charles Richter, a scientist working at the California Institute of Technology, discovered the Richter scale with the help of Beno Gutenberg.
- On April 25, 2015, an earthquake of magnitude 7.8 struck Nepal and caused devastation. 8857 people died. There was a lot of damage to the buildings here.
