On March 27, 1964, a magnitude 9.2 megathrust earthquake — the second strongest ever recorded — struck southern Alaska, shaking the Earth for nearly five minutes. The violent rupture along the Aleutian subduction zone caused the ground to rise and fall by as much as 30 feet, devastating cities like Anchorage, Valdez, and Seward.
The quake triggered massive tsunamis that swept through coastal Alaska and raced across the Pacific, striking California, Oregon, and Hawaii. In total, 131 people died, and thousands were displaced as homes, harbors, and entire towns were destroyed.
But the Great Alaska Earthquake was more than a tragedy — it was a turning point. Scientists studying the event uncovered key evidence confirming the emerging theory of plate tectonics, revolutionizing our understanding of how Earth’s crust moves and reshapes itself.
In its aftermath, the U.S. established the National Tsunami Warning Center to better detect and respond to future threats. The landscape of Alaska was forever altered — both physically and scientifically — leaving behind a legacy of resilience and discovery born from the planet’s unimaginable power.

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