Falla

A fault is a crack or fracture in the Earth's crust where two blocks of rock have moved past each other. These movements can be caused by tectonic forces and are responsible for earthquakes. Faults vary in size from tiny cracks to large, kilometers-long features. The movement along faults can be slow and gradual or sudden and violent, releasing energy as seismic waves during earthquakes. Faults help to accommodate the stress accumulated in the Earth's crust, which is constantly being deformed by tectonic activity. Understanding faults is essential for assessing earthquake risks in different regions.