ABAG Earthquake Quiz - Answer 3

Answer #3 Fiction!

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Image animation courtesy of the U.S. Geological Survey.

Earthquakes occur on faults, but we can only view those faults on the surface if the rupture which generated the earthquake extends to the surface. Strong earthquakes can occur without the rupture extending to the surface. The rupture did not extend to the surface in both the 1994 Northridge earthquake and the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake. The To learn more about what makes the Bay Area "Earthquake Country," click here.

ABAG, the Association of Bay Area Governments, is the regional planning and services agency for the nine-county San Francisco Bay Area. This information is based on the ABAG reports, "The San Francisco Bay Area - On Shaky Ground."

jbp 9/16/03