1964 Alaska earthquake facts for kids
Fourth Avenue in Anchorage, Alaska, looking east from near Barrow Street. The southern edge of one of several landslides in Anchorage, this one covered an area of over a dozen blocks, including five blocks along the north side of Fourth Avenue. Most of the area was razed and made an urban renewal district.
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| UTC time | 1964-03-28 03:36 |
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| ISC event | 869809 |
| USGS-ANSS | ComCat |
| Local date | March 27, 1964 |
| Local time | 17:36:16 AKST |
| Duration | 4–5 minutes. |
| Magnitude | 9.2 Mw, 6.7 mb (ISC) |
| Depth | 25 kilometers (16 mi) |
| Epicenter | 60°54′29″N 147°20′20″W / 60.908°N 147.339°W |
| Type | Megathrust |
| Areas affected | United States, Canada |
| Total damage | $311 million (1964 USD) |
| Max. intensity | XI (Extreme) |
| Peak acceleration | 0.18 g |
| Tsunami | Major. Run-up of 67 m (220 ft) at Shoup Bay, Alaska. |
| Casualties | 131 killed |
The 1964 Alaska earthquake, also known as the Great Alaska earthquake or Good Friday earthquake, was a very powerful earthquake. It happened on Good Friday, March 27, 1964, at 5:36 PM AKST. This huge earthquake caused the ground to crack, buildings to fall, and giant tsunami waves. Most of the damage was in south-central Alaska, especially in Anchorage. Sadly, about 131 people lost their lives.
This earthquake lasted for four minutes and thirty-eight seconds. It had a magnitude of 9.2, making it the strongest earthquake ever recorded in North America. It is also the second most powerful earthquake ever recorded in the world's history.
Contents
What Caused This Giant Quake?
The 1964 Alaska earthquake was a type called a megathrust earthquake. This happens when one of Earth's large plates, called a tectonic plate, slides under another. In Alaska, the Pacific Plate is slowly sliding beneath the North American Plate. When these plates get stuck and then suddenly slip, it releases a huge amount of energy, causing a powerful earthquake.
How Did the Earthquake Affect People?
The shaking was incredibly strong. It caused the ground to move a lot, leading to landslides and buildings collapsing. Many homes and businesses were destroyed. The earthquake also caused the ground to sink in some areas, especially near the coast.
Tsunami Waves Hit Hard
One of the most dangerous effects of this earthquake was the tsunami it created. A tsunami is a series of very large ocean waves caused by sudden movement on the ocean floor.
- A 27-foot (8.2 m) tsunami wave completely destroyed the village of Chenega. Out of 68 people living there, 23 were killed.
- Other Alaskan towns like Whittier, Seward, and Kodiak were also hit very hard by these giant waves.
- The tsunamis traveled far across the Pacific Ocean. They caused damage and affected people in British Columbia in Canada, and in the US states of Washington, Oregon, and California.
- Even distant places like Hawaii and Japan saw damage from these powerful tsunami waves. Some effects of the earthquake's motion were even reported as far away as Florida and Texas.
Rebuilding After the Quake
After the earthquake, many areas needed to be rebuilt. For example, the town of Valdez was so damaged that it had to be moved to a completely new location. The disaster taught scientists a lot about earthquakes and tsunamis, helping to improve safety measures for the future.
Images for kids
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The largest landslide in Anchorage occurred along Knik Arm between Point Woronzof and Fish Creek, causing substantial damage to numerous homes in the Turnagain-By-The-Sea subdivision.
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The ruin of Portage
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A plank driven through a tire by the tsunami in Whittier
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The 5-story JCPenney department store in Anchorage in 1964, following the earthquake.
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Kodiak before and after the earthquake
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The Valdez townsite was abandoned and relocated following the 1964 earthquake and was used as a pipe yard for the construction of the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System, as shown in this 1974 photo
See also
In Spanish: Terremoto de Alaska de 1964 para niños
