On March 27, 1964 at 5:36pm local time, a great earthquake of magnitude 9.2 occurred in the Prince William Sound region of Alaska. It started approximately 25 km (15.5 miles) beneath the surface; with its epicenter about 120 km (75 miles) east of Anchorage.
The earthquake lasted approximately 4.5 minutes and is the most powerful recorded earthquake in U.S. history. It is also the second largest earthquake ever recorded; next to the magnitude 9.5 earthquake in Chile in 1960.
The mainshock and its aftershocks occurred on a fault which is part of the boundary between the Pacific and North American plates.
The shaking triggered many landslides and avalanches. Major structural damage occurred in many of the larger cities in Alaska.
The number of deaths from the earthquake totalled 131; 115 in Alaska and 16 in Oregon and California.
Much of the damage and most of the lives lost were due to the effects of water waves. The 1964 Alaska tsunami was the second largest ever recorded; again following only the one caused by the 1960 Chile earthquake.
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