About the earthquakes highlighted in Mystery Epicenter
These earthquakes were selected for their signifance as a group, based on these priorities:
• including large magnitude events that actually or potentially could cause significant damage in southern California
• including events that provided coverage of the region of interest as evenly as possible, even if some were lower in magnitude
• including events that occurred along major fault zones, including some that have been relatively dormant over the last century
• including events that provided coverage of the region of interest as evenly as possible, even if some were lower in magnitude
• including events that occurred along major fault zones, including some that have been relatively dormant over the last century
Location on a map
• Locations on Google Earth
• Locations relative to faults on Google Earth
(large file)
Table - Basic data and links to more information about each earthquake
| Group | Location | Date & time | Magni- tude |
Depth (km) |
Links |
| 1 | Hector Mine 34° 36' N, 116° 16' W 32 miles north of the town of Joshua Tree 47 miles east-southeast of Barstow |
October 16, 1999 2:46:44 am PDT |
7.1 | 0.01 |
• Basic information - SCEDC • Wikipedia • About.com Geology • Photos - USGS • USGS |
| 2 | Whittier Narrows 34° 03.68' N, 118° 04.71' W 11 km (7 miles) southeast of Pasadena |
October 1, 1987 6:47 am PDT |
5.9 | 9.5 |
• Basic information - SCEDC • Wikipedia • USGS • Info - Whittier Daily News |
| 3 | Oceanside 32° 58' N, 117° 52.3' W 51 km (32 miles) WSW (offshore) from the city of Oceanside 55 km (35 miles) NW of San Diego |
July 13, 1986 6:47 am PDT |
5.4 | 8.8 |
Earthquake epicenters occur offshore as well as on land. Newer technologies allow us to monitor these events as well as ones on land. Although this particular earhquake didn't cause damage, offshore earthquakes have the potential to cause damage. Hazards include eathquake and tsunami. • Basic information - SCEDC • Recent quakes in the same area |
| 4 | Northridge 34° 12.80' N, 118° 32.22' W 20 miles west-northwest of Los Angeles 1 mile south-southwest of Northridge |
January 17, 1994 4:30:55 am PST |
6.7 | 18.4 |
• Basic information - SCEDC • Wikipedia • USGS • LA Times • Photos • Personal accounts |
| 5 | Landers 34° 13' N, 116° 26' W 6 miles north of Yucca Valley |
June 28, 1992 4:57:31 am PDT |
7.3 | 1.1 |
• Basic information - SCEDC • Wikipedia • USGS |
| 6 | San Fernando 34° 24.67' N, 118° 24.04' W |
February 9, 1971 6:01 am PST |
6.6 | 8.4 |
• Basic information - SCEDC • Wikipedia • Photos - USGS |
| 7 | Fish Creek Mountains 32° 58' N, 116° 00' W about 45 km (28 miles) west of Brawley about 95 km (60 miles) east of San Diego |
October 21, 1942 9:30 am, PWT |
6.6 | ? |
Although there isn't much information about the Fish Creek Mountains earthquake, this earthquake occurred on an important fault - the San Jacinto Fault northeast of San Diego. • Basic information - SCEDC • Information about other earthquakes on the San Jacinto Fault • Potential earthquakes on the San Jacinto Fault |
| 8 | Long Beach 33° 37' N, 117° 58' W 5 km (3 miles) south of present-day Huntington Beach |
March 10, 1933 5:54 pm, PST |
6.4 | ? |
• Basic information - SCEDC • Wikipedia • Photos • Info • Info and photos |
| 9 | San Jacinto Fault Near 33° 40' N, 116° 50' W roughly 16 km (10 miles) southeast of San Jacinto about 115 km (72 miles) ESE of Los Angeles |
December 25, 1899 4:25 am, PST |
6.5 | ? |
• Basic information - SCEDC • Wikipedia • USGS • Southern California Seismic Network • National Geographic |
| 10 | Kern County 35° 00' N, 119° 02' W 37 km (23 miles) south of Bakersfield |
July 21, 1952 4:52 am,PST |
7.5 | ? |
• Basic information - SCEDC • Wikipedia • SCEC • San Joaquin Valley Geology |
| 11 | Laguna Salada 32° 30' N, 115° 40' W about 20 km (13 miles) southwest of Mexicali, Mexico about 125 km (80 miles) east of San Diego |
February 23, 1892 11:20 pm, PST |
7 | ? |
• Basic information - SCEDC • California Geological Survey • Seismolocgal Society of America |
| 12 | Fort Tejon 35° 43' N, 120° 19' W about 72 km (45 miles) northeast of San Luis Obispo, about 120 km (75 miles) northwest of Bakersfield, as shown on the map (epicenter location uncertain). |
January 9, 1857 ~ 8:20 am, PST |
7.9 | ? |
• Basic information - SCEDC • Wikipedia • Fort Tejon Historical Association • Account • Historical newspaper article |
| 13 | Wrightwood Uncertain; probably on the San Andreas fault near Wrightwood. |
December 8, 1812 Mid-morning |
7.5 | ? |
• Basic information - SCEDC • Info • Damage at Mission San Juan Capistrano • Reference to damage at Mission San Gabriel |
| 15 | Sierra El Mayor (Guadalupe Victoria, Mexico) 50 km (30 miles) SSE of Mexicali, Baja California, Mexico, northern Baja California |
April 4, 2010 3:40 PM |
7.2 | 10 km (poorly constrained) |
• Basic information - USGS • Basic information - SCSN |