Earthquakes commonly begin when rocks slip along faults and release stored energy. Many faults lie near plate boundaries. Magnitude and depth filters change which historical events are visible, not their actual locations.
Earth and geology · Discover & try
Where do earthquakes happen?
Reading level 3 of 5 · IndependentChange
Word help
Epicentre
The point on Earth’s surface above an earthquake’s starting location.
Magnitude
A measure of an earthquake’s size.
Depth
The estimated distance of an earthquake’s starting location below the surface.
Watch · Try · Explain
See how it works
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Historical USGS sample: 150 earthquakes, magnitude 4.5 or greater, 1–6 October 2025. Reference plate boundaries are not a risk forecast.
What to look for
- Compare the dated event dots with plate boundaries.
- Filter magnitude and depth separately.
- Check the dates and selection limits before drawing a conclusion.
Explain what you noticed
What can this historical map help us investigate?
Keep this idea: Many earthquakes cluster near plate boundaries, but the map is a historical sample rather than a prediction.
Follow the sources
- U.S. Geological Survey — The Science of Earthquakes
- U.S. Geological Survey — GeoJSON Summary Format
- U.S. Geological Survey — Earthquake Catalog: API Documentation
Source material checked 2026-10-28. Explanations and activities by Nepedia. Agency source links do not imply endorsement.
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