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The largest earthquakes are not always the most
disastrous. For example you can have a large earthquake of a magnitude
9.0 with little damage because it is located in a remote area. But a 6.0
can cause death to thousands of lives if it occurs in an area with poor
construction and high concentration of people. Imagine being a survivor.
Think about how long it would take to heal a family that lost family
members, houses, jobs, and friends. The overwhelming helplessness of a
disaster is something you hope you never feel!
The 10 largest earthquakes from 1900 to 2000 are
located on the world map. Notice that they are located in an area
referred to as the Ring of Fire around the edges of the Pacific Ocean.
Let’s learn about several historic disasters.
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| 1. Chile, 9.5 |
6. Kuril Islands, 8.7 |
| 2. Alaska, 9.2 |
7. Alaska, 8.7 |
| 3. Russia, 9.0 |
8. India, 8.6 |
| 4. Ecuador, 8.8 |
9. Chile, 8.5 |
| 5. Alaska, 8.8 |
10. Indonesia, 8.5 |
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(from U.S.
Geological Survey) |
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