2007-02-28 07:39:07 · 11 answers · asked by x_jelliebean_x 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Earth Sciences & Geology
It is one of the biggest stike-slip faults, but subduction zones (like the South American, the Sumatran, the Japanese, the Alutian, etc.) are actually much bigger.
The size of the quake is based on the size of the fault. The biggest on the San Andreas is an 8, and subduction quakes can get over 9 (like the 2004 quake that caused a tsunami).
2007-02-28 08:56:02 · answer #1 · answered by QFL 24-7 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
The San Andreas is not the biggest fault in the world. It is a plate boundary (between the North American and Pacific plates), which are the largest faults, but there are larger. While it is true that larger faults have the potential for larger earthquakes, earthquake size is not dependent on the size of the fault it is dependent on the size of the area that ruptured during a given quake. When a quake occurs it doesn't (necessarily) rupture the whole length of the fault, just a part of it.
2007-02-28 09:44:28 · answer #2 · answered by Ayame 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I think the Great Rift Valley in East Africa is the largest, slowly splitting the "African Horn" off the main continent. This is out of MSN encarta:
"Great Rift Valley, depression, extending more than 4,830 km (more than 3,000 mi) from Syria in southwestern Asia to Mozambique in southeastern Africa...."
It does start in the Sea Of Galilei on the Israeli-Syrian border, runs through the Dead Sea Depression, the Gulf of Aqaba and the Red Sea into Djibouti, Africa. There it extends southwards through Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania into Mozambique where it runs into the Indian Ocean.
2007-03-02 17:33:29 · answer #3 · answered by McMurdo 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
no, the state of Britain is the fault of successive bad governments-this is a big fault or it could be the mariana trench deep in the Pacific ocean
2007-03-01 09:05:16 · answer #4 · answered by malcolm m 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
NO TECHNICALLY THE LARGEST FAULT IS WHAT IS CALLED THE MOHO BETWEEN THE CRUST AND UPPER MANTLE
BUT IF YOU WANT SURFACE FAULTS, THERE ARE BIGGER, PLUS SAN ANDREAS IS A FAULT NETWORK, NOT ONE SIMPLE SINGLE FAULT
2007-03-01 04:14:11 · answer #5 · answered by Kev P 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think the biggest fault was that of Tony Blair deciding to support the USA...a yawning chasm
2007-02-28 07:43:05 · answer #6 · answered by Doodie 6 · 1⤊ 2⤋
hey number 1 stole my answer! - ok then the biggest fault is inventing the combustion engine - on every level.
2007-02-28 07:47:15 · answer #7 · answered by jellybean 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋
i think the baring straights (between america and russia) is the biggest, dont know how active it is now though
2007-02-28 07:45:04 · answer #8 · answered by mark d 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋
if your talking about gun crime, its the black rappers like 50 cent at fault. there everywhere on music channels/radio
2007-02-28 07:49:06 · answer #9 · answered by L 5 · 0⤊ 2⤋
i think its one of the biggest,i know the one in new zealand has a huge one..sorry i couldnt give u a direct answer..gl
2007-02-28 07:48:18 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋