Earthquake

Quakes and Spooks: Remember That Halloween Earthquake?

Join us as we revisit a spooky Halloween night in 1935 when Sault Ste. Marie felt nature's fury! Discover the eerie connection between earthquakes and this year’s Halloween. 🎃

Do you remember that spooky Halloween night not too long ago? Imagine a trick-or-treating adventure suddenly shaken up by an earthquake! Well, if you were in Sault Ste. Marie in 1935, you wouldn’t need to imagine. This overshadowed Halloween became quite memorable for locals as a tremor rattled through the quiet landscapes, reminding everyone that nature has its own tricks to play. Panic ensued as kids scrambled to finish their hauls and people ran from their homes—only for many to return with stories rather than candy!

This significant seismic event, caused by the movement of the tectonic plates, had the residents chatting well into the night, their adrenaline from both fright and chatter far surpassing the usual Halloween scares. The quake was felt through the Sault Ste. Marie region, adding an unexpected twist to an already thrilling evening. Who could have guessed that ghosts might take the backseat to the rumbling depths beneath your feet?

Fast forward to today and the Mt. Spurr earthquake in Alaska, which registered at a moderate M0.8 on the Richter scale, is certainly nothing to shake a stick at (but also wouldn't knock your candy off the shelf). Crustal seismicity in this region can be attributed to three major sources—the faults and folds of the Cook Inlet basin and the Castle Mountain Fault being the most notorious. It’s like the geography of Alaska is in a constant state of Halloween, with tectonic plates playing tricks on the locals.

Bearing this in mind, every Halloween has its own eerie undertones, not just from the costumes and candies but from the earth beneath our feet. This Halloween, as you enjoy the festivities, spare a thought for the seismic tales of the past, and remember that while you might be dressing up as a ghost, the real spook could be the movements of the earth below.

Fun Fact: Did you know that earthquakes can actually occur anywhere in the world? While regions near fault lines tend to experience them more frequently, even places that seem stable can shake things up once in a while.

Another interesting tidbit: The largest earthquake ever recorded happened in 1960 off the coast of Chile, measuring a whopping 9.5 on the Richter scale! Imagine the Halloween costume party you could throw with that kind of power beneath your feet!