There are many famous earthquakes the world over. Each region and country has its own famous earthquakes but there are a few that are famous everywhere. Generally they are famous because of their size and the amount of destruction they caused. The most famous earthquakes in history are the deadliest examples of the power earthquakes have. Some have even stood the test of time and are still being talked about hundreds of years later.
The earliest famous earthquake occurred in China in the Shaanxi Province in 1556. Estimates place the magnitude at about an 8. We now know it as the deadliest earthquake on record as it claimed 830,000 lives. At this time many people were living in caves and under cliffs rather than in villages, and the earthquake caused these to collapse.
In 1755 Lisbon, Portugal experienced what is thought to be a magnitude 9 quake that occurred just offshore. The earthquake itself devastated buildings and streets. In the aftermath the city was hit by giant tsunamis that sunk ships and washed thousands of people out to sea. Fires raged in other parts of the city. In the end two thirds of Lisbon had been destroyed.
One of the most famous earthquakes in the United States, if not the most famous, was the San Francisco quake in 1906. It is estimated to have been a 7.9 magnitude. The earthquake itself damaged buildings throughout the city, with the aftershocks causing most of them to collapse. Most buildings were constructed with wood and warmed by fires, which caused many buildings to catch fire in the earthquake and rage out of control for days after.
The New Madrid, Missouri earthquakes in 1811-1812 were the most powerful ever felt in the Midwest. The initial earthquake is estimated to have been a magnitude 8.1, with some that followed being almost as bad. The quakes reshaped much of the landscape, changing land elevations and creating new lakes and swamps, and burying towns. Quakes even caused sections of the Mississippi River to flow backwards for a few hours.
In 1964 in Prince William Sound, Alaska the largest earthquake in US History was recorded as a magnitude 9.1. It caused large scale landscape changes, such as elevation shifts of several feet in different areas. Tsunamis from the quake caused damage for thousands of miles. Anchorage was hit especially hard, but casualties were low.
These are just a few of the famous earthquakes throughout history. There are many others, and as time goes by there are new devastating earthquakes that occur every few years all over the world.
