7 Eruptions That Can RIP Apart the Planet
Scientists are discovering new ones all of the time. Think you’re standing on solid ground? Think again. These seven underwater fault lines have the power to literally turn your world upside down!
1. The Cascadia Subduction Zone
he West Coast of the United States is precariously perched on some of the nastiest fault lines on the planet, including the Cascadia Subduction Zone.
This fault line doesn’t split too often, but when it does, watch out! Native American folklore is chock-full of stories about the sea rising up to swallow the Pacific Northwest. What’s more, the Cascadia Subduction Zone is due for another massive eruption!
2. The San Andreas Fault
This mighty continental rift spans a horrifying 800 miles right through one of the most populated areas in the United States: California. It’s the rip between the North American and Pacific Plates, and it’s constantly grinding. The San Andreas Fault has, and will again, erupted. It’s only a matter of time.
3. The Koa’e Fault Zone
Hawaii might not be situated on a tectonic divide, but it has problems all of its own, specifically the Koa’e Fault Zone. This active area is constantly causing major issues- from volcanic activity to underwater earthquakes that just might spell the end of days for the small United States island chain.
The Koa’e Fault Zone is dotted with huge volcanos that churn up hot magma from the Earth’s core and spew it out into the ocean- and sometimes onto populated areas of the island.
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4. The Denali Fault
Alaska might be one of the most beautiful places on the planet, but it’s also one of the deadliest. If you can survive the frigid winters, bloodthirsty grizzly bears, and extreme swaths of uncharted wilderness, you’ll still have to contend with the icy Pacific rising up to meet the land.
5. The Japan Trench
Japan’s history with the sea is long documented. This island nation is famous for its bountiful seafood and fresh sushi and sashimi. On the flip side, the sea hasn’t always been kind to Japan. In 2011 a mammoth tsunami rose up and smashed into a nuclear power plant, causing what was known as the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster.
Contamination spilled into the water and spoiled the land, costing millions of dollars in damage and claiming countless lives.
6. Southern California Fault Line
This fault line is just a tiny slice of the massive San Andreas Fault, but it deserves recognition on its own. Scientists have zeroed in on the Southern California Fault Line, identifying it as the most likely place for a devastating earthquake within the next several years.
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7. The Ring Of Fire
In the early hours of December 26, 2004, an international tragedy struck the countries surrounding the Indian Ocean. What would become known as the Boxing Day Tsunami killed 227,898 people in multiple countries and cost fifteen billion US dollars worth of damage. It was an unprecedented disaster: a 9.0 earthquake caused by a slip in one of the Ring of Fire’s fault lines.