Earthquakes Facts

Moths are unable to fly during an earthquake.

An earthquake on Dec. 16, 1811 caused parts of the Mississippi River to flow backwards.

More than 500,000 earthquakes occur throughout the world every year, though most are too small for humans to feel!

Every year, Alaska experiences tens of thousands of earthquakes, with approximately 33,000 of magnitude 1 or higher. This makes it the most seismically active state in the United States.

In 1975, officials in the Chinese city of Haicheng were so alarmed by odd and anxious behavior of dogs and other animals, they ordered the evacuation of 90,000 residents from the city. Only a few hours later, a 7.3 magnitude earthquake destroyed nearly 90 percent of the city’s buildings.

15 million gallons of wine were destroyed in the 1906 San Francisco earthquake.

During the 1994 Northridge earthquake blackout in Los Angeles, emergency services received calls from concerned residents about strange silvery clouds in the sky. Many were seeing the Milky Way clearly for the first time in their lives.

During the 1995 and 2011 Japanese Earthquakes, the Yakuza provided aid such as food, water, blankets, and diapers, much faster than the Japanese government.

A 5.2 magnitude earthquake shook San Diego on April 14, 2025. Elephants at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park felt it coming through their feet. Three mothers, Ndlula, Umngani, and Khosi, raced to surround two 7-year-old calves, facing outward with ears spread wide. They held the ring for several minutes, then formed it again during an aftershock.