Earthquake of 1964

The 1964 Alaska earthquake, also known as the Good Friday Earthquake, occurred on March 27, with a magnitude of 9.2, making it the second-largest ever recorded. It resulted from the Pacific Plate sliding beneath the North American Plate along the fault line, releasing enormous energy. The quake caused widespread destruction across southern Alaska, triggering tsunamis that affected coastal areas as far as Hawaii and California. It lasted about four and a half minutes, causing land uplift, avalanches, and structural damage, and resulted in 131 deaths. This event significantly advanced understanding of earthquake dynamics and tectonic activity.