The 1985 Nahanni earthquakes is the name for a continuous sequence of
earthquake
An earthquake (also known as a quake, tremor or temblor) is the shaking of the surface of the Earth resulting from a sudden release of energy in the Earth's lithosphere that creates seismic waves. Earthquakes can range in intensity, from ...
s that began in 1985 in the
Nahanni region of the
Northwest Territories
The Northwest Territories (abbreviated ''NT'' or ''NWT''; french: Territoires du Nord-Ouest, formerly ''North-Western Territory'' and ''North-West Territories'' and namely shortened as ''Northwest Territory'') is a federal territory of Canada. ...
, Canada.
[Natural Resources Canada: Rock and Roll in the N.W.T.: The 1985 Nahanni Earthquakes](_blank)
The largest of these earthquakes occurred on December 23, reaching 6.9 on the
moment magnitude scale
The moment magnitude scale (MMS; denoted explicitly with or Mw, and generally implied with use of a single M for magnitude) is a measure of an earthquake's magnitude ("size" or strength) based on its seismic moment. It was defined in a 1979 pape ...
.
This is one of the most significant earthquakes in Canada during the 20th century.
Natural Resources of Canada: Significant Earthquakes in Canada
The earthquakes had a long succession of aftershock
In seismology, an aftershock is a smaller earthquake that follows a larger earthquake, in the same area of the main shock, caused as the displaced crust adjusts to the effects of the main shock. Large earthquakes can have hundreds to thousand ...
s and jolts. The earthquakes amazed both the general public and the earth science community and have been felt in the Yukon
Yukon (; ; formerly called Yukon Territory and also referred to as the Yukon) is the smallest and westernmost of Canada's three territories. It also is the second-least populated province or territory in Canada, with a population of 43,964 as ...
, Alberta
Alberta ( ) is one of the thirteen provinces and territories of Canada. It is part of Western Canada and is one of the three prairie provinces. Alberta is bordered by British Columbia to the west, Saskatchewan to the east, the Northwest Ter ...
, Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan ( ; ) is a Provinces and territories of Canada, province in Western Canada, western Canada, bordered on the west by Alberta, on the north by the Northwest Territories, on the east by Manitoba, to the northeast by Nunavut, and on t ...
, British Columbia
British Columbia (commonly abbreviated as BC) is the westernmost province of Canada, situated between the Pacific Ocean and the Rocky Mountains. It has a diverse geography, with rugged landscapes that include rocky coastlines, sandy beaches, ...
, and southeastern Alaska
Alaska ( ; russian: Аляска, Alyaska; ale, Alax̂sxax̂; ; ems, Alas'kaaq; Yup'ik: ''Alaskaq''; tli, Anáaski) is a state located in the Western United States on the northwest extremity of North America. A semi-exclave of the U.S., ...
.
See also
*List of earthquakes in 1985
This is a list of earthquakes in 1985. Only earthquakes of magnitude 6 or above are included, unless they result in damage or casualties, or are notable for some other reason. All dates are listed according to UTC time.
By death toll
By m ...
*List of earthquakes in Canada
This is a list of earthquakes in Canada.
List
Abbreviations used:
See also
*Hydraulic fracturing in Canada
References
External links
*Natural Resources CanadEarthquakes Canada*Earthquakes CanadRecent earthquakes
{{DEFAULTSORT:Earthquake ...
References
Sources
*
*
External links
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Nahanni
1985 in Canada
1865
Events
January–March
* January 4 – The New York Stock Exchange opens its first permanent headquarters at Broad Street (Manhattan), 10-12 Broad near Wall Street, in New York City.
* January 13 – American Civil War : Sec ...
1985 earthquakes
Natural history of Alaska
Natural history of Yukon
Natural history of Alberta
Natural history of Saskatchewan
Natural history of British Columbia
December 1985 events in Canada
1985 in the Northwest Territories
Earthquake clusters, swarms, and sequences
1985 disasters in Canada
1985 natural disasters in the United States