The San Andreas Fault is a major geological fault that runs through densely populated regions of California and is constantly in motion. It is a transformed, strike-slip fault that creates mountains, valleys, and lakes. The fault caused the 1906 San Francisco earthquake and geologists monitor it for signs of another major earthquake. It is impossible to predict when the next “big one” might occur.
The San Andreas Fault is a major geological fault that runs along the Northern California coast, veering inland as it approaches Southern California. Because the fault extends through densely populated regions of the state, it’s often a topic of discussion, as a major earthquake could be a very serious problem for California. The 1906 San Francisco earthquake, for example, was caused by movement along the fault, and geologists monitor it closely for any signs that another large earthquake may be on the way.
Like other faults, the San Andreas fault is a fracture in the earth’s crust that is characterized by increased geological activity. It is a transformed fault, which means it lies along the boundary between two tectonic plates. The Pacific Plate meets the North American Plate there, with a smaller plate called the Juan De Fuca Plate located at the northern end of the fault. It is also classified as a strike-slip fault, because the two plates are actually sliding past each other, with the Pacific Plate slowly moving north.
Andrew Lawson, a geology professor at the University of California, Berkeley, discovered the San Andreas Fault in 1895. He named it for a lake, the Laguna de San Andreas, that formed from movements along the fault line. He was the first to realize that the geological fault actually extended as far south as Southern California, and he also identified a number of associated faults, such as the Hayward Fault.
Fault movements have contributed immensely to the California landscape. It is even clearly visible in some places, as people who have flown over it have noted. Along the fault line, large mounds of rock and earth have been heaved up to create clear, straight lines that can be used to chart the progress of the fault as it makes its way along the California coast. As it moved, it created mountains, valleys and lakes, many of which are treasured as recreation areas by Californians who may not be aware that they are literally treading dangerous ground.
The San Andreas Fault is actually constantly in motion, although most of its small earthquakes are only detectable with advanced geological equipment. Many more noticeable earthquakes occur throughout California each week, with the occasional large aftershock. It is not possible to predict catastrophic earthquakes along the fault; one could happen in the next 10 minutes or in the next 200 years, and no one is really sure when the next “big one” might occur, though geologists certainly try to analyze activity along the fault for warning signs.
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