1925 Charlevoix-Kamouraska earthquake
Encyclopedia
The 1925 Charlevoix–Kamouraska earthquake was a major earthquake
that struck the entire northeastern part of North America
on February 2, 1925, reaching 6.2 on the moment magnitude scale
.
The earthquake was one of the most powerful measured in Canada in the 20th century. The main shock epicentre occurred in the area of Charlevoix
-Kamouraska, along the Saint Lawrence River
, near île aux Lièvres. It was felt in Quebec
, Shawinigan, Montreal
, and as far south as Virginia
, and as far west as the Mississippi River
. It caused damage in three separate areas. The first had extreme damage constricted to a narrow belt 20 miles long on both shores of the Saint Lawrence River near the epicentre. In this area, damage at the villages of Baie-Saint-Paul, Saint-Urbain
, Les Éboulements, Pointe-au-Pic, La Malbaie, Tadoussac and the other nearby villages of Ste-Anne-de-la-Pocatière, St-Pacôme, Rivière-Ouelle, Saint-Philippe
, Saint-Denis
, and Saint-Pascal on the south shore, was mostly related to the magnitude of the earthquake itself, and to some extent by the deep grainy soil on which many of the destroyed buildings were built. The two other damaged areas were Quebec City
and in the Trois-Rivières
- Shawinigan area, where the destruction was more extensive, not so much due to the strength of the earthquake, but rather to the uneven nature of the landscape. A total of 55 aftershock
s were recorded, which lasted for weeks, ranging from magnitude 5 to 2. Over the years, several studies were published on the 1925 Charlevoix–Kamouraska earthquake, some as recently as 1999.
Earthquake
An earthquake is the result of a sudden release of energy in the Earth's crust that creates seismic waves. The seismicity, seismism or seismic activity of an area refers to the frequency, type and size of earthquakes experienced over a period of time...
that struck the entire northeastern part of North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
on February 2, 1925, reaching 6.2 on the moment magnitude scale
Moment magnitude scale
The moment magnitude scale is used by seismologists to measure the size of earthquakes in terms of the energy released. The magnitude is based on the seismic moment of the earthquake, which is equal to the rigidity of the Earth multiplied by the average amount of slip on the fault and the size of...
.
The earthquake was one of the most powerful measured in Canada in the 20th century. The main shock epicentre occurred in the area of Charlevoix
Charlevoix
The Charlevoix region, located in Quebec, includes parts of the north shore of the Saint Lawrence River and the Laurentian Mountains region of the Canadian Shield...
-Kamouraska, along the Saint Lawrence River
Saint Lawrence River
The Saint Lawrence is a large river flowing approximately from southwest to northeast in the middle latitudes of North America, connecting the Great Lakes with the Atlantic Ocean. It is the primary drainage conveyor of the Great Lakes Basin...
, near île aux Lièvres. It was felt in Quebec
Quebec City
Quebec , also Québec, Quebec City or Québec City is the capital of the Canadian province of Quebec and is located within the Capitale-Nationale region. It is the second most populous city in Quebec after Montreal, which is about to the southwest...
, Shawinigan, Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
, and as far south as Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
, and as far west as the Mississippi River
Mississippi River
The Mississippi River is the largest river system in North America. Flowing entirely in the United States, this river rises in western Minnesota and meanders slowly southwards for to the Mississippi River Delta at the Gulf of Mexico. With its many tributaries, the Mississippi's watershed drains...
. It caused damage in three separate areas. The first had extreme damage constricted to a narrow belt 20 miles long on both shores of the Saint Lawrence River near the epicentre. In this area, damage at the villages of Baie-Saint-Paul, Saint-Urbain
Saint-Urbain, Quebec
Saint-Urbain is a parish municipality in Quebec, Canada, located in the Capitale-Nationale region.The municipality lies along Quebec Route 381 at the intersection with Quebec Route 138.-History:...
, Les Éboulements, Pointe-au-Pic, La Malbaie, Tadoussac and the other nearby villages of Ste-Anne-de-la-Pocatière, St-Pacôme, Rivière-Ouelle, Saint-Philippe
Saint-Philippe
Saint-Philippe is a commune in the French overseas department of Réunion. It is located in south-eastern Reunion.-Geography:Saint-Philippe is on the highest point on the island. It borders the municipalities of Saint-Joseph and Sainte-Rose, to the west and north respectively. Although it is a...
, Saint-Denis
Saint-Denis
Saint-Denis is a commune in the northern suburbs of Paris, France. It is located from the centre of Paris. Saint-Denis is a sous-préfecture of the Seine-Saint-Denis département, being the seat of the Arrondissement of Saint-Denis....
, and Saint-Pascal on the south shore, was mostly related to the magnitude of the earthquake itself, and to some extent by the deep grainy soil on which many of the destroyed buildings were built. The two other damaged areas were Quebec City
Quebec City
Quebec , also Québec, Quebec City or Québec City is the capital of the Canadian province of Quebec and is located within the Capitale-Nationale region. It is the second most populous city in Quebec after Montreal, which is about to the southwest...
and in the Trois-Rivières
Trois-Rivières
Trois-Rivières means three rivers in French and may refer to:in Canada*Trois-Rivières, the largest city in the Mauricie region of Quebec, Canada*Circuit Trois-Rivières, a racetrack in Trois-Rivières, Quebec...
- Shawinigan area, where the destruction was more extensive, not so much due to the strength of the earthquake, but rather to the uneven nature of the landscape. A total of 55 aftershock
Aftershock
An aftershock is a smaller earthquake that occurs after a previous large earthquake, in the same area of the main shock. If an aftershock is larger than the main shock, the aftershock is redesignated as the main shock and the original main shock is redesignated as a foreshock...
s were recorded, which lasted for weeks, ranging from magnitude 5 to 2. Over the years, several studies were published on the 1925 Charlevoix–Kamouraska earthquake, some as recently as 1999.
See also
- Charlevoix Seismic ZoneCharlevoix Seismic ZoneThe Charlevoix Seismic Zone is a seismically active area in the Charlevoix region of northeastern Quebec, Canada. It is also known as the Charlevoix-Kamouraska Seismic Zone because earthquakes occur in Kamouraska Country where the land expression of the seismic zone is separated by the Saint...
- List of earthquakes in Canada
- List of earthquakes in the United States