2006 Gulf of Mexico earthquake
Encyclopedia
The 2006 Gulf of Mexico earthquake was a 5.8 magnitude earthquake
that hit the Gulf of Mexico
on September 10, 2006, about 250 miles west-southwest of Anna Maria, Florida
around 10:56 AM EDT
.
The quake was reportedly felt from Louisiana
to Florida
. There were no reports of major damages or casualties. Items were knocked from shelves and seiche
s were observed in swimming pools in parts of Florida . The earthquake was described by the USGS as a midplate earthquake, the largest and most widely felt recorded in the past three decades in the region.
According to the September 11, 2006, issue of The Tampa Tribune
, earthquake tremors were last felt in Florida in 1952, recorded in Quincy
, 20 miles northwest of Tallahassee
.
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 hit the Gulf of Mexico
Gulf of Mexico
The Gulf of Mexico is a partially landlocked ocean basin largely surrounded by the North American continent and the island of Cuba. It is bounded on the northeast, north and northwest by the Gulf Coast of the United States, on the southwest and south by Mexico, and on the southeast by Cuba. In...
on September 10, 2006, about 250 miles west-southwest of Anna Maria, Florida
Anna Maria, Florida
Anna Maria, is a city in Manatee County, Florida, United States. The population was 1,814 at the 2000 census. According to the 2005 U.S. Census Bureau's estimates, the city grew slightly to 1,867. The city occupies the northern part of Anna Maria Island and is one of three municipalities on the...
around 10:56 AM EDT
Eastern Time Zone
The Eastern Time Zone of the United States and Canada is a time zone that falls mostly along the east coast of North America. Its UTC time offset is −5 hrs during standard time and −4 hrs during daylight saving time...
.
The quake was reportedly felt from Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
to Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
. There were no reports of major damages or casualties. Items were knocked from shelves and seiche
Seiche
A seiche is a standing wave in an enclosed or partially enclosed body of water. Seiches and seiche-related phenomena have been observed on lakes, reservoirs, swimming pools, bays, harbors and seas...
s were observed in swimming pools in parts of Florida . The earthquake was described by the USGS as a midplate earthquake, the largest and most widely felt recorded in the past three decades in the region.
According to the September 11, 2006, issue of The Tampa Tribune
The Tampa Tribune
The Tampa Tribune, published in Tampa, Florida, is one of two major newspapers published in the Tampa Bay area, second in circulation and readership to the St. Petersburg Times. The paper's tagline is "Life...
, earthquake tremors were last felt in Florida in 1952, recorded in Quincy
Quincy, Florida
Quincy is a city in Gadsden County, Florida, United States. The population was 6,982 at the 2000 census. As of 2004, the population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau is 6,975...
, 20 miles northwest of Tallahassee
Tallahassee, Florida
Tallahassee is the capital of the U.S. state of Florida. It is the county seat and only incorporated municipality in Leon County, and is the 128th largest city in the United States. Tallahassee became the capital of Florida, then the Florida Territory, in 1824. In 2010, the population recorded by...
.