San Andreas Fault
Jacob Lytle
Location
The 1,300km long San Andreas Fault is located in Southern California. It runs from the outskirts of Las Vegas to near San Jose, 1,250km away. Although there has been no urban development anywhere near the fault, the seismic activity from the fault can affect the land up to 250km away from the line.
Facts
- The San Andreas Fault has cause 4 earthquakes since the beginning of the 1800s, including the Great San Francisco Earthquake.
- The fault has formed many other smaller landforms in the surrounding area, such as cliffs and miniature mountains.
- Despite the new movie, historical infamy, and the fact that it is a high Earthquake risk area, the San Andreas Fault barely has any tourism.
- In 2005, a group of scientists drilled 2 miles deep into the fault, and recovered extremely large 'core' stones that may be able to give scientists an idea of how the fault works.
- Small fault lines can be seen stemming from the main fault line. These occur when the tectonic plates underground occasionally crack (not completely.)
Type Of Landform And Forming
The San Andreas Fault was created when the North American and Pacific tectonic plates collided. One of the two plates was forced to slide under the other plate and created a trench along the borders of the two plates in doing so. The Fault line marks where the North American plate begins and where the Pacific plate ends.
Wildlife Near The Fault
The Pinnacles National Park is located within 100km of the Fault and is home to animals such as the Red Legged Frog and the Condor, with both being native to the unique landscape the fault line provides.
Human Intervention
- In 2005, as stated above, a group of scientists dug 2 miles into the Fault.
- Tourism in and near the fault takes tourists through deep caves and the Fault itself, along with the chance to see native wildlife.