USA: Anchorage earthquake was a big one, but it could have been much worse. Why L.A. should take warning
By Alejandra Reyes-Velarde
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Unlike Anchorage, many California cities have not been shaken by what scientists consider a major earthquake in the modern era. San Francisco’s last extremely large earthquake was in 1906, with an estimated magnitude of 7.9. Southern California’s last great one was in 1857, also an estimated magnitude 7.9, which moved the San Andreas fault an astonishing 185 miles between Monterey County and the San Gabriel Mountains near Los Angeles.
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California has a long history of large earthquakes, and experts said the Anchorage destruction should be another warning to prepare.
A similar-size earthquake around downtown L.A. would be much more destructive because the buildings are older and the area much more densely populated.
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Aside from the mighty San Andreas fault, Southern California is criss-crossed with smaller faults that pose major dangers, including the Newport-Inglewood fault, which produced the 1933 Long Beach quake, and the Hollywood fault, which runs through the heart of Los Angeles.
Another big concern is the Puente Hills thrust fault, which runs from near Whittier through downtown L.A., USC and Dodger Stadium, before veering west toward Beverly Hills.
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