Earthquakes have been known to cause great damage and terror amongst those affected by them .

Earthquakes and the waves of energy that they make also ‘cycle’ more than 3000 years ago as the earliest
recorded evidence of an earthquake has been traced back to 1831 BC in the Shandong Province are
typically caused by “shifting masses of rocks miles below the surface” . Earthquakes of China , though
there is fairly complete record starting in 780 BC during the Zhou Dynasty in China .

A majority of earthquakes occur along plate boundaries such as the boundary between the Pacific Plate and
the North America Plate . One of the most active plate boundaries where earthquakes are frequent , for
example , is around the massive Pacific Plate commonly referred to as the Pacific Ring of Fire . Alaska is
the most earthquake- prone state and one of the most seismically active region in the world . Alaska
experiences a magnitude 7.0 earthquake almost every year , and a magnitude 8.0 or greater earthquake on
average every year . From 1975 – 1995 there were only four states that did not have any earthquakes .
They were Florida , Iowa , North Dakota and Wisconsin .

The magnitude of an earthquake is a measured value of the earthquake size . The magnitude is the same of
an earthquake is a measure of the shaking created by the earthquake , and this value varies with location .
Before electronics allowed recordings of massive earthquakes , scientist built a large spring-pendulum
seismometer .

Earthquakes aren’t the only ‘quakes’ in the world , as there are others such as icequakes and moonquakes .
The interior of Antartica has icequakes which , although they are much smaller ,they are the frequent
quakes that happens in Antartica . The icequakes are similar to earthquakes but occurs only within the ice
sheet itself instead of the land beneath the ice . On the other hand , moonquakes “Earthquakes on the
Moon” do occur , but are less frequent and have smaller magnitudes compared to earthquakes on Earth . It
appears they are related to the tidal stresses associated with the varying distance between the Earth and the
Moon . They also occurs deeper depth – about halfway between the surface and the center of the Moon .On
Earth , most earthquakes occur at depths of less than 80km(50miles) from the Earth’s surface. Besides this
, do you know earthquakes are believed to be able to increase the birth rate of affected countries ?

In a case where an earthquake struck New Zealand , a week after the quake it killed 160 people , the
country experienced a surge of new life . In Canterbury , the region affected by the quake , hospital
maternity wards are filled to capacity , and they even had to transfer some newborns to other hospitals. The
birth rate also raise immediately after a 7.0 – magnitude quake hit the same New Zealand region last
September .

Here are some ways to protect yourself if earthquake occurs :

1) The most important thing to do during earthquakes is to drop and cover . This means to fall on the
floor and get something for protection . If you’re indoors , stay calm and take cover under some
object . If you’re outdoors , don’t stand near buildings .
2) Stay away from glass or anything that can fall
3) If you’re in a crowd ,do not run for the closest exit . Everyone will rush there , which can cause
injuries .
4) Always prepare yourself for aftershocks , which are some follow-ups earthquakes . Though
smaller than the actual one , is it still dangerous .