One look at Vancouver Island and the British Columbian
coastline reflects the scarred or scored earth ...
 |
| As you can see a Hilary iphone image ... bit it shows inlets, lakes, etc etc |
... masses of ruptures creating wonderful bays, inland
lakes, and idyllic areas for wildlife away from the madding crowds usually
delivered by road ...
It is an accepted fact that earthquakes occur here regularly
... and at some stage the 'big one' will happen - when expediency to get to high
ground is necessary.
The 1700 AD Cascadia earthquake was the last massive one (on
the west coast of Canada) ... recorded in Japan, but orally remembered here by
the First Nations peoples ...
 |
| Sonny Assu - on exhibition at Victoria Art Gallery ... Reclaimed Cedar ... dendochronological rings |
The connection between the Japanese tsunami and the west
coast earthquake here, over three hundred years ago, has been found using dendochronology
- tree ring analysis ...
I have had, but not felt, an earthquake since I've been here ... small ones occur quite frequently ... and I am on higher ground - so don't need to rush out!
That is E for Earthquakes ... from Aspects by a British
'girl' in Canada ...
Hilary Melton-Butcher
Positive Letters Inspirational Stories
48 comments:
Yikes - I've not been aware of earthquakes in Canada. But it makes sense, there's a huge fault line, no doubt, running through the whole continent
I would assume that you guys get as many earthquakes as we do (as we're both on the ring of fire). You'll get accustomed to them. They tend to happen in clusters, and at the moment we're in a relatively quiet period.
We get very few earthquakes here and what we do are very small. I've woken up to rattling of my furniture, thought, "Oh! An earthquake!" and gone back to sleep.
I was in LA one time and all of a sudden around 3am I felt the whole house shaking. My God, I had never been in an earthquake before that!
Hari OM
My home in Sydney was on the fault line which shook hard and landed in Newcastle NSW back in 1989 - it was very unnerving as the whole ground rolled like the ocean. They have recently had a spate of tremors again... YAM xx
I've felt one here on the East Coast. It's really surreal.
must be scary to live on a fault line where another "big one" could happen. yikes!
we have earthquakes here but they're not severe and mostly really low on the Richter scale. one time we had one and i thought it was just my stomach rumbling til the news said it was an earthquake. lol thanks for another interesting post.
I'd be very uncomfortable living in Japan or somewhere that has regular earthquakes. That's one natural disaster Australia is usually spared. Thanks for this history of Canadian tremblies.
Denise
I have felt several small earthquakes out here in the west, but nothing too serious. They say that we are due for a big one sometime. Hopefully we will be prepared if and when.
I have felt small earthquakes - and hope never to feel a big one. Yet again I learned something about Canada which I didn't know. Thank you for continuing my education.
I have felt a tiny earthquake once in my life.
I do not want to see one again though
Tongue Twister for E
Hi Hilary. I don't think southern Africa has earthquake zones. The tremmers felt in Johannesburg are sometimes, are the result of the deep mining that goes on there. This was a very good E post, Kim
I’ve never felt an earthquake, though John has experienced them in LA and Japan. In the former he was lecturing and bits fell from the ceiling. In the latter he was more concerned that the waitress (who was standing stock still with her eyes firmly closed) had just brought his beer and he might have to leave it!
Didn't know that about Canada being earthquake prone - but it makes perfect sense given the SA fault. Glad you're safe! As always, a brilliant choice of E-word.
Earthquakes are scary to me. I guess because I don't live with them. Hurricanes are scary too, but because they are our norm... well you know, we learn to live with our 'scaries.' What else can we do? Interesting piece from the Victoria Art Gallery!
I was in Nepal just before the devastating eartquake of 2015. I often look back at the pictures I took of beautiful ancient buildings than no longer exist.
My Friend Rosey - E is for Employment
I experienced a 'trembelo' in Mexico City - I was the only one to vacate my hotel room. Had not heard of earthquakes in Canada before but guess it makes sense, especially the west coast.
Thanks Hilary, very interesting. Hopefully those earthquakes will remain mild tremors, no more. Occasionally we feel them here up on the highveld in South Africa ..
My daughter lives on the West Coast and often feels earth quakes. The town she lives in was the epicenter of a major one back in the late 80’s, long before she moved there. I keep my worries to myself, but they are always there.
I hope the big one does not hit while you live there, Hilary. Over time, earthquakes create such beauty with the land they shift around but it is better to be somewhere else while the land is shifting. Hope you have gone over the plans for what to do and where to stand if you do have a significant one. When I moved to California in 1994, I had no idea what to do in the event of an earthquake. I actually ran onto a balcony in a Midnight panic during my first earthquake. After that, I learned what I was supposed to have done.
We didn't expect to experience an earthquake on the east coast, yet I remember one waking me up as a teenager on Long Island and we just had one not too long ago. Very surprising!
Elsie
When Rob and I stayed on Vancouver Island over at Tofino in 2007, I remember seeing all the Tsunami safe zones for if the big one hit and I also remember being told back in 1997, that they overdue too.
Tasha
Tasha's Thinkings - Movie Monsters
I'm always amazed by the dendochronological records - while of course it makes sense, it still feels crazy amazing to me. I've felt a tiny quake, way too small to be scary. But I'm always grateful when I hear any quakes are small. Earth needs to release the pressure and tension and it's far better to have small releases than huge ones.
We regularly have earthquakes here in California, not too destructive because building codes are in place. I am quite familiar with the San Andreas Fault and hadn't thought to follow it into Canada. Very interesting post.
Earthquakes - not something I can say I've experienced. Glad to hear you're on higher ground.
Sophie
Ghostly Inspirations - Sophies A to Z
@ Joanne - yes there are various fault lines throughout the Pacific rim ...
@ Liz - probably ... Alaska had one fairly recently - which affects us ... there are different tectonic plates though ... I'm happy if it stays relatively quiet!
@ Sue - I think small ones happen around the globe in many places ... we get them in England occasionally ...
@ Nas - I can imagine that a relatively big shake must be quite frightening ... not fun!
@ Yamini - it's interesting where the tremors reach the surface ... it's a disconcerting effect ...
@ Alex - it is certainly a strange experience ... and I expect relatively rare on the east coast ...
@ Lenny - well I guess if a 'big one' occurs I'll be living through it - but I hope I will have returned across the pond by then! Tummy rumbling ... I bet a few people have their tummies rumbling when an earth quake occurs!
@ Denise - I think Japan must have more than its fair share of earthquakes ... trouble is they disrupt so much more than just their rumbles - the effects can be quite terrible ... I rather hope the tremblies stay away while I'm here ...
@ Marcy - I'll be glad not to be around should 'the big one' decide to happen ... but am sure I'll experience a few ... people seem to be prepared for them along this coastline ...
@ EC - like you I've felt small earth rumbles - in Jo'burg, SA they were earth-workings falls ...
@ DeeDee - they must be disconcerting ... and like you I'll stay clear if pos!
@ Kim - I think you're right ... the rumbles I felt in Jhb (Jo'burg) were mine workings movement ...
@ Anabel - I can imagine people just stopping everything and hoping the whole quake goes away without disaster occurring ... but I'm glad John got his beer!! However I wouldn't want to experience even his minor event ...
@ Nila - yes major fault lines around the Pacific Rim ... but the effects can come from other earthquake zones in the Pacific ...
@ Rosey - thanks for noticing Sonny Assu's work ... it was fascinating to see these exhibits - there were three of them. Your comment about what can we do re earthquakes, tsunamis, hurricanes, tornadoes - we can't do much ... but either move or live where we live and accept what nature throws at us ...
@ Keith - that must be amazing to be able to see the photos and to see what Nepal was like before that devastating 2015 earthquake - it was horrific to see the destruction ...
@ Bob - Mexico City is meant to be quite 'a probable' earth quake area ... how funny - you left your room and no-one else did ... you could well have been wise ...
@ Susan - well I sure hope the tremors remain mild ... those highveld ones I think are probably mine workings and I felt those quite often when I lived out there ...
@ Arleen - I can believe she might often feel the quakes - I vaguely remember that big one in the late 80s, though I was in South Africa at the time. I'm sure as a mother you keep your worries to yourself ... there's not much we can do ...
@ Emily - well me too! As I'm high up - there's nothing I can do ... except wait it out and then go help anyone I can ... well here first! Oh gosh - I can imagine you having a panic during your Ca earthquake - and then being told what to do next time ... frightening ...
@ Elsie - I gather earthquakes aren't common on the East Coast ... but occur occasionally as you've experienced ...
@ Tasha - yes I'll keep my open for the Tsunami signs when I get to Tofino ... I don't remember them from my earlier visit about 20 years ago ...
@ Deborah - tree rings are so interesting aren't they. I agree there are better to have lots of small pressure releases than a 'big one' - but we have no control over nature ...
@ Jacqui - I gather there are quite a few quakes down south ... and yes building codes certainly help. The San Andreas fault is a daunting fault line ... I'll leave it at that! There are various tectonic plate lines around the Pacific Ocean ... that's why the area is so volatile ... east and west ...
@ Sophie - well I'd prefer not to experience a 'serious' earthquake ... but at least I am on higher ground ...
Cheers to you all - thanks so much for your visits and comments re your experiences or thoughts - Hilary
I grew up in California, so I've felt a few small earthquakes. Only enough to shake the bed, really. I thought my brother was playing tricks on me. Here's hoping "the big one" never happens!
In areas along the plates tremors are accepted and often ignored. My first time I was in a panic staying at a motel along the continental divide. I ran to the office only to find the owner playing his sax and giving him a good laugh at my terror.
I hope that they stay clear of you! The only tremors I have ever felt were in Johannesburg and caused by the mines. The first one I felt, I asked the head lad where I worked what it was. He told me that God was angry and was shaking the earth!! Take care Diane
I always associate earthquakes with California. But Canada is probably right on that fault line, too. I can see why they experience frequent tremors.
We had earthquakes in Oregon. I keep thinking the whole west coast is going to break off into the ocean one day.
Earthquakes are more common than many think. Apparently even the UK gets around one a year, but they're hardly noticed. Measuring the link between two events using tree rings - I can't even imagine how that's done!
Since we have lived in Ontario, I have felt a few tremors, but luckily never very much. When I visited San Francisco many years ago, I was told the big one was expected and I was nervous the whole time I was there. I am assuming the tectonic plate in BC is the same as the one in California. Didn't realise that area was prone to quakes.
As ever, a lovely post! The San Andreas Fault is a worry out west, though we've barely felt but a few, here in Arizona. We figure our 'big one' will set California afloat before it creates more than new canyons for us. My tremors be few along your journey ;-)
@ Sara - the 'big one' will happen - and when it does whoever is around will need to cope. Your brother obviously teased you quite often ...
@ Steve - people do seem to accept the fact tremors occur - and carry on living along the various fault lines. How funny about your motel tale ... I can imagine your panic and then the laughter from the owner with his sax ...
@ Diane - I too hope any major earthquakes don't happen while I'm here ... and like you said the Jo'burg ones were mine workings' tremors. 'God being angry' is a much better answer!!
@ Sherry - there are plenty of fault lines all around the Pacific ... hence the recent earthquakes in Ecuador, here and other places ...
@ Diane - I suspect in due course the continental lands we know will be very different - when of course is another matter ... but they're constantly changing now ...
@ Nick - yes there are lots more earthquakes going on than we imagine ... and we get told about them in the UK at varying times ... there was one recently off Wales.
@ Jo - I think they occur most places; I can believe you spent the time really worried ... but life carries on doesn't it ...
Here's some info on techtonic plates: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plate_tectonics
@ Diedre - thanks so much ... the San Andreas fault does cause worries ... but they are monitoring it fairly well. What happens when the big San Fran one occurs - we can only guess and hopefully not find out ... yes I hope my tremors be few!
Thanks everyone - let's hope the major earthquakes stay away from us all - cheers Hilary
I don't live in an earthquake zone per se, but I do live on the shores of Lake Erie, and there's a fault line that produces a low-intensity (1.2–2.5 Richter) earthquake every few years. I've felt it twice in all the years I've lived here, and it was disconcerting but not frightening. I can't imagine living in an area that has a major fault. I'd be terrified every time I felt a little shiver.
I've lived through many having lived most of my life near earthquake faults in California.
I went to University for a year in Austria and there was an earthquake which was definitely unexpected. People ran into the streets. The funny thing was, the movie Earthquake was showing in town that week!
I had no idea there were so many tectonic plates. I just thought there were several major ones, but from the map, there seem to be lots of minor ones as well.
Hilary: Thank you for sharing this information about the earthquakes. I didn't realize that Canada was that vulnerable.
So much for being quiet... (I think I went and tempted fate.) Ah well, at least today's wasn't too bad.
@ Lynda - interesting to read about your tremors under Lake Erie ... I guess the people who live in a high earthquake area get used to it ... and hope it isn't a really severe one ... I agree I'd be worried.
@ Claire Annette - if you live there ... then I imagine you've had a few 'quakes in your time. How extraordinary there was that earthquake in Austria ... and yes how funny the movie 'Earthquake' was showing ... that's one of those strange, but true tales ...
@ Jo - lots of tectonic plates ... they float around ... sometimes causing us problems ...
@ Sandy - it is interesting that the earthquake zone stretches up and down the coastline ... and around the whole Pacific Rim ...
@ Liz - oh dear ... kids will be kids ...
Cheers to you all - thanks for commenting - Hilary
Fascinating info. Thanks for sharing.
Earthquakes? Head for the hills! (I wrote a Californian post of that title I believe...no matter, it was on another subject entirely but in that same place I was slightly worried by the ornaments that moved in the night and that had to be pushed back on the shelf each morning due to the frequent tremors...I never felt a thing...
I don't think I could live where they say there will definitely be a big one here some day! But I guess it would happen anywhere really. We didn't have earthquakes until fracking wells began. They have halted it now thankfully.
I had no idea Canada would have earthquakes. We have minor ones here, in the southern U.S., too.
I didn't realize that there were so many earthquakes in Canada. It makes sense- but I guess we don't hear about them very often for some reason. Thanks for sharing! Glad you are up high. ;)
~Jess
@ Ronel - good to see you ...
@ Deborah - you were lucky not to be moved by your Californian earthquake ... but yes similar plate tectonics down there ..
@ Denise - well I don't live here - and would rather it didn't happen in the next 18 months or so!! Fracking is another matter ...
@ Lynn - oh yes lots of earthquakes up here ...
@ Jess - it's interesting how big an earthquake zone the west coast has - and yes I'm quite glad I'm up high!
Cheers to you all - earthquakes may stay away ... I hope so! Hilary
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