2009 Gulf of California earthquake
Encyclopedia
A 6.9 magnitude earthquake occurred in the Gulf of California
, between the Mexican
states of Sonora
and Baja California
, on August 3, 2009, at 10:59:56 a.m. PDT (17:59:56 UTC).
The quake's epicenter was located offshore, in the Gulf of California, between two islands, only 22 km (13.7 mi) from Isla Ángel de la Guarda
and 36 km (22.4 mi) from Tiburón Island
. It was 89 km (55.3 mi) north-northeast of Santa Isabel
, Baja California, 185 km (115 mi) west of Hermosillo
, Sonora. The earthquake occurred along the Tiburón fault zone that is part of the tectonic boundary between the North American plate
and the Pacific plate
.
The quake rocked buildings in Puerto Libertad
, El Desemboque
, Punta Chueca
, Bahía de Kino, Puerto Peñasco
and Hermosillo
. It was felt in Ensenada
, Tecate
, Mexicali
and Tijuana
. In the United States, the earthquake was felt in parts of Southern California
and Arizona
.
Gulf of California
The Gulf of California is a body of water that separates the Baja California Peninsula from the Mexican mainland...
, between the Mexican
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
states of Sonora
Sonora
Sonora officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Sonora is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided into 72 municipalities; the capital city is Hermosillo....
and Baja California
Baja California
Baja California officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Baja California is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is both the northernmost and westernmost state of Mexico. Before becoming a state in 1953, the area was known as the North...
, on August 3, 2009, at 10:59:56 a.m. PDT (17:59:56 UTC).
The quake's epicenter was located offshore, in the Gulf of California, between two islands, only 22 km (13.7 mi) from Isla Ángel de la Guarda
Isla Ángel de la Guarda
Isla Ángel de la Guarda, also called Archangel Island, and called Xazl Iimt east of Bahía de los Ángeles, and separated from the Baja California Peninsula by the Canal de Ballenas . It is the second largest of the eleven Midriff Islands or Islas Grandes. It is part of the state of Baja California,...
and 36 km (22.4 mi) from Tiburón Island
Tiburón Island
Tiburón Island is both the largest island in the Gulf of California and the largest island in Mexico, with an area of . It was made a nature reserve in 1963 by President Adolfo López Mateos. Tiburón is Spanish for shark. The etymology of the Seri name is unknown...
. It was 89 km (55.3 mi) north-northeast of Santa Isabel
Santa Isabel, Baja California
Santa Isabel – Saint Isabel – is a city in Baja California in Mexicali Municipality. The city had a population of 29,311 as of 2010. Santa Isabel is the second largest city in the municipality and part of the Mexicali metropolitan area, is located west of the capital city Mexicali. The city is...
, Baja California, 185 km (115 mi) west of Hermosillo
Hermosillo
Hermosillo is a city and municipality located centrally in the northwestern Mexican state of Sonora. It is the capital and main economic center for the state and region. It contains almost all of the state's manufacturing and has thirty percent of its population...
, Sonora. The earthquake occurred along the Tiburón fault zone that is part of the tectonic boundary between the North American plate
North American Plate
The North American Plate is a tectonic plate covering most of North America, Greenland, Cuba, Bahamas, and parts of Siberia, Japan and Iceland. It extends eastward to the Mid-Atlantic Ridge and westward to the Chersky Range in eastern Siberia. The plate includes both continental and oceanic crust...
and the Pacific plate
Pacific Plate
The Pacific Plate is an oceanic tectonic plate that lies beneath the Pacific Ocean. At 103 million square kilometres, it is the largest tectonic plate....
.
The quake rocked buildings in Puerto Libertad
Puerto Libertad
Puerto Libertad is a village and municipality in Misiones Province in northeastern Argentina.-References:...
, El Desemboque
El Desemboque
El Desemboque, known as "Haxöl Iihom" in the Seri language, is a town located 376 km from Hermosillo on the shore of Gulf of California in the Mexican state of Sonora; coordinates N 29° 30' 13", W 112° 23' 43". It is one of two major villages on the Seri Indian communal property, the other being...
, Punta Chueca
Punta Chueca
Punta Chueca is a Seri town located on the Gulf of California in the Mexican state of Sonora. It is located 16 miles north of the fishing and tourist town of Bahía de Kino...
, Bahía de Kino, Puerto Peñasco
Puerto Peñasco
Puerto Peñasco is a city and municipality located in the northwest of the state of Sonora about 100 km from the Arizona border. It is located on the small strip of land that joins the peninsula of Baja California with the rest of Mexico. The area is part of the Altar Desert, one of the driest...
and Hermosillo
Hermosillo
Hermosillo is a city and municipality located centrally in the northwestern Mexican state of Sonora. It is the capital and main economic center for the state and region. It contains almost all of the state's manufacturing and has thirty percent of its population...
. It was felt in Ensenada
Ensenada, Baja California
Ensenada is a coastal city in Mexico and the third-largest city in Baja California. It is located south of San Diego on the Baja California Peninsula. The city is locally referred to as La Cenicienta del Pacífico, or, The Cinderella of the Pacific...
, Tecate
Tecate
Tecate is a small city in Baja California, Mexico and the municipal seat of Tecate Municipality. It is located on the border with Tecate, California, United States in the San Diego–Tijuana metropolitan area. There is a small port of entry betwixt the sister cities that serves as a calmer...
, Mexicali
Mexicali
Mexicali is the capital of the State of Baja California, seat of the Municipality of Mexicali, and 2nd largest city in Baja California. The City of Mexicali has a population of 689,775, according to the 2010 census, while the population of the entire metropolitan area reaches 936,826.The city...
and Tijuana
Tijuana
Tijuana is the largest city on the Baja California Peninsula and center of the Tijuana metropolitan area, part of the international San Diego–Tijuana metropolitan area. An industrial and financial center of Mexico, Tijuana exerts a strong influence on economics, education, culture, art, and politics...
. In the United States, the earthquake was felt in parts of Southern California
Southern California
Southern California is a megaregion, or megapolitan area, in the southern area of the U.S. state of California. Large urban areas include Greater Los Angeles and Greater San Diego. The urban area stretches along the coast from Ventura through the Southland and Inland Empire to San Diego...
and Arizona
Arizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
.
Foreshocks and aftershocks
- 03 August 2009 - 10:55:23 a.m. PDT (17:55:23 UTC) - 5.8 Mw (4 minutes before the larger quake) 28.976°N 112.988°W
- 03 August 2009 - 11:33:34 a.m. (18:33:34 UTC) - 5.0 Mw 28.931°N 113.022°W
- 03 August 2009 - 11:40:55 a.m. (18:40:50 UTC) - 6.2 Mw 29.330°N 113.681°W
- 05 August 2009 - 02:13:13 a.m. (09:13:13 UTC) - 5.5 Mw 29.615°N 113.850°W