Book 12, Question 72
Why Do Some Earthquakes Happen Far Away From Plate Edges?
Most earthquakes happen along plate edges, but a few happen far inside the plates! They happen along old cracks and weak spots in the rock. These surprise quakes are rarer, but they do happen.
More fun facts
- Faults far from plate edges also make earthquakes, but less often.
- Stress travels from plate edges through the whole plate.
- When that stress hits an old weak spot, like an ancient fault, a quake is more likely.
- Many of these weak spots come from long ago mountain building or rifting.
- Scientists are still studying why these quakes happen.
Sources: U.S. Geological Survey, U.S. Geological Survey
Questions kids ask
Can a place far from a plate edge have earthquakes?
Yes. Old weak spots in the crust can break when stress reaches them.