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Geography fun facts and oddities: Difference between revisions

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=== Earthquakes ===
=== Earthquakes ===
[[File:East vs West Coast Earthquakes USGS.jpg|right|200px|thumb|This map shows that East Coast earthquakes travel much farther than West Coast earthquakes of similar magnitude (wiki)]]
* 5-largest recorded earthquakes by magnitude:
* 5-largest recorded earthquakes by magnitude:
# [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1960_Valdivia_earthquake 9.4-9.5 1960 Valdivia earthquake, Chile]]
# [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1960_Valdivia_earthquake 9.4-9.5 1960 Valdivia earthquake, Chile]]
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* see Tsunami section below for the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami
* see Tsunami section below for the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami
* '''2011 Virginia earthquake'''
* '''2011 Virginia earthquake'''
click EXPAND for details, map & earthquake video at top of the Washington Monument
click EXPAND for details & video from top of the Washington Monument
<div class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed">
<div class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed">
[[File:East vs West Coast Earthquakes USGS.jpg|right|200px|thumb|This map shows that East Coast earthquakes travel much farther than West Coast earthquakes of similar magnitude (wiki)]]
** this 5.8 magnitude earthquake, centered in Louisa County, Virginia, was felt as far as New England, Canada, Michigan and Alabama and Florida
** this 5.8 magnitude earthquake, centered in Louisa County, Virginia, was felt as far as New England, Canada, Michigan and Alabama and Florida
** the reason the tremors were so widely felt is that the U.S. East Coast has extensive bedrock that transmits shock waves across extensive distances, whereas less geologically stable areas do not transmit shock waves as far.  
** the reason the tremors were so widely felt is that the U.S. East Coast has extensive bedrock that transmits shock waves across extensive distances, whereas less geologically stable areas do not transmit shock waves as far.  
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* [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2011_Virginia_earthquake Virginia earthquake, 2011 (wiki)]]
* [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2011_Virginia_earthquake Virginia earthquake, 2011 (wiki)]]
</div>
</div>
=== Rocks ===
=== Rocks ===
* '''Devil's Tower'''
* '''Devil's Tower'''