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California sits atop what's known as a transverse boundary. This is an area where two plates of the earth's crust are sliding past each other. This is not a smooth, continuous process; they catch and slip every now and then, which results in an earthquake.

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10y ago
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14y ago

It is like this because they are on the edge of a plate boundary.

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14y ago

Because they're sitting right over the boundaries between different continental plates, big chunks of the earth's crust that can move a little WRT each other.

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Q: Why do most major earthquakes in the united States occur in California and Alaska?
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Are there earthquakes in the US?

Plate tectonic and fault activity is located across the continental United States, Hawaii and Alaska. Major faults include the San Andreas in California. Other faults can be found in the Northeast, also areas with volcanic activity such as Kilauea also have earthquakes.


What are some areas in the United States where the earthquake risk is high?

West coast probably has the worst earthquakes in the US.


Do any fifty states contain volcanoes?

Yes, a number of states in the United States contain volcanoes. These include Alaska, California, Hawaii, Oregon, and Washington. Each of these states has active or dormant volcanoes within their borders.


Where are earthquake located in the world map?

California is known for earthquakes in the United States. Earthquakes are usually found around tectonic plate boundaries. For example the Pacific Ring of Fire.


What state are most earthquake prone?

Earthquakes can occur nearly anywhere. However, states which are on or near major plate boundaries have very frequent, usually small earthquakes... these would include California, Oregon, Washington, and Alaska. Nevada, Utah, Hawaii, and Arizona also experience frequent quakes, and there are more than you might expect in Missouri and Arkansas. The United States Geological Survey maintains a nearly real-time quake map on their website (in the related links section) if you're interested in seeing where there have been earthquakes in the past week or so. Alaska has the most earthquakes per year, around 12,000. California has the second most earthquakes per year, around 10,000. Hawaii has the third most earthquakes per year, around 8,000.

Related questions

Where in the United States beside California do earthquakes occur?

All of the states have experienced earthquakes in the past. However Alaska, Hawaii, Nevada, Washington and Idaho are the most active states besides California.


Where do most earthquakes occur in the US?

The most frequent number of earthquakes in U.S. are in Alaska followed by California.


Does Alaska have more land than California?

Yes, Alaska is the United States LARGEST state.


What are the five pacific coast states?

Alaska, California, Hawaii, Oregon, and Washington.


What is the largest of all of the 50 states of the u.s?

Alaska is the largest out of all 50 states in the United States of America.


What two states in the United states were overrun by gold diggers at about the same time?

California and Alaska


Are there earthquakes in the US?

Plate tectonic and fault activity is located across the continental United States, Hawaii and Alaska. Major faults include the San Andreas in California. Other faults can be found in the Northeast, also areas with volcanic activity such as Kilauea also have earthquakes.


Where do earthquakes occur in the United States for kids?

Earthquakes occur on the west side of the United states of America. The state of California is often hit by earthquakes. This is because there is a fault line cause by the tectonic plates on the western coast of America.


Which states in the continental United states borders the pacific ocean?

They are Alaska, Washington, Oregon and California.(Alaska is continental, but it is not contiguous with the "lower 48.")


What states have the most earthquakes?

About 65 volcanoes in the United States are considered active; most of these are in Alaska, where an eruption occurs almost every year. -http://www.livescience.com/environment/090225-jindal-volcano-monitoring.html


What region the earthquake happens?

In the United States, California has the most earthquakes, but there are some in the east too.


Who has more earthquakes Hawaii or California?

Yes, California has earthquakes. EVERYWHERE has earthquakes. California is actually the biggest earthquake risk zone in the United States.Calafornia does have earthquakes it is actually the top state or whatever to have the most earthquakes in the world i thinkCalafornia does have earthquakes it is actually the top state or whatever to have the most earthquakes in the world i think