The Valdivia earthquake occurred on May 22, 1960 near Cantante, Chile with an epicenter located in South America. It was the most powerful earthquake ever recorded at a magnitude of 9.5. The earthquake caused over 1,600 deaths and left millions homeless in Chile. It also generated a tsunami that traveled across the Pacific Ocean causing deaths and damage in Hawaii, Japan, the Philippines, and the western United States. The earthquake was caused by the release of stress between the subducting Nazca and South American tectonic plates with a relatively shallow focus of 33 km.

1. Valdivia Earthquake
Kendra McDonald

2. Date and Location
Took place at 2:11 pm
local time on the 22nd
of
May, 1960.
The epicenter was
located near Cantante ,
Chile in South America.
http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/world/events/1960_05_22.php

3. Globally
http://fhswolvesden.wikispaces.com/file/view/1-world-map-political.gif/81329845/1-world-map-political.gif

4. Significance
The Valdivia earthquake is significant because the most
powerful earthquake ever recorded, rating 9.5 on the moment magnitude
scale.
Approximately 1,655 killed, 3,000 injured, 2,000,000 homeless, and $550
million damage in southern Chile; tsunami caused 61 deaths, $75 million
damage in Hawaii; 138 deaths and $50 million damage in Japan; 32 dead
and missing in the Philippines; and $500,000 damage to the west coast of
the United States.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/archive/9/9f/20100519205756!Valdivia_after_earthquake
http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/world/events/1960_05_22.php

5. Tectonic Setting
The earthquake was a megathrust earthquake resulting from the release
of mechanical stress between the subducting Nazca Plate and the South
American Plate.
The focus was relatively shallow at 33 km.
http://www.earlham.edu/~bieriir/earthquakes/pictures/subduction%20zone.gif
http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/world/events/1960_05_22.php

6. Tsunami
The tsunamis severely battered the Chilean coast, with waves up to 25
meters. The main tsunami raced across the Pacific Ocean and
devastated Hilo, Hawaii. Waves as high as 10.7 meters were recorded
6,000 miles from the epicenter, and as far away as Japan and the
Philippines.
http://www.rothcpa.com/archives/misc/tsunami.jpg
http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/world/events/1960_05_22.php

7. Tsunami
The tsunamis severely battered the Chilean coast, with waves up to 25
meters. The main tsunami raced across the Pacific Ocean and
devastated Hilo, Hawaii. Waves as high as 10.7 meters were recorded
6,000 miles from the epicenter, and as far away as Japan and the
Philippines.
http://www.rothcpa.com/archives/misc/tsunami.jpg
http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/world/events/1960_05_22.php