Natural+Hazards

__**Natural Hazards in California**__ California is no stranger to natural disasters. It is the third largest and the most populous state in the United States, and it is known for its diverse climate and scenic beauty, however, California is also known as the site of many serious and deadly natural hazards such as earthquakes, wildfires, landslides (volcanoes) and tsunamis.

 __**Earthquakes**__ Earthquakes are probably the most known natural disaster in California. The reason for that is because California is located in an area where it is 'tectonically' active, meaning that it is a place where three tectonic plates come together.

This is a seismic map of California that represents active seismicity:



(source: [])

The largest earthquake in California History was in Fort Tejon, California on January 9th, 1857 with a magnitude of 7.9. This earthquake occured on the San Andreas fault, which ruptured fro, near Parkfield to Wrightwood. The shaking of the earthquake lasted from 1-3 minutes, and it caused heavy to moderate property damage at Fort Tejon, including one person that was killed during the collpase of an adobe house at Gorman.



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__**Volcanoes** __

Although not very known for Volcanoes, California is actually one of the states to have several active and potentially active volcanoes that could pose a hazard. One of the most notable volcanoes that have erupted in California are called __Lassen Peak__ and Mt. Shasta Lassen Peak erupted between 1914 and 1917 and although Mt. Shasta hasn't erupted in historic times, it is assumed to have erupted at least 3 times in the last 750 years or so. Mt. Shasta is probably the most dangerous because the past eruptions have sent hot volcanic gases, ashes, cinders and other debris down the slopes and also large amounts of volcanic mud flows have flown down the slopes of Shasta, that could potentially damage the site of several towns that are built around the area.

__**Tsunamis** __

Tsunamis, also known as tidal waves, are seismic sea waves that is caused by the movements along faults, undersea landslides, volcanic eruptions and other natural hazards. Although it is also known as tidal waves, this is incorrect because tides are //not// the cause of tsunamis. Like mentioned before in the Earthquake section, California is a seismically active region that is prone to earthquakes and volcanic activities, and because of that, tsunamis along the coast are also a possibility. Since the sourves of the waves would be close to the coast, if tsunami was to happen in California, it could generate a very large tsunami with little warning, and would cause extensive amounts of property damage and deaths. One of the largest tsunami in California history was in Alaska in the year of 1964--it killed 12 people in Crescent City in California, and 122 people in Alaska.

 __**Wildfires** __ Wildfires are one of the most common natural hazards in California along with Earthquakes. Wildfires are a natural part of the environment in California. The climate type in California is what is called the "Mediterranean Type" which it's characteristics are mild rainy winters, and warm or hot dry summers. Vegetation grows during the winter spring, and it dries out during the long dry summers. Greater the growth of vegetation in the wet season, the more fuel there is to burn, so the area in California that has the most vegetation growth, wildfires are a threat because vegetation is very flammable. Believe it or not, Wildfires can beneficial to some plant species. Fires release nutrients from dead plant materials back to the soil, allowing new growth the following season. Parts of California that do //not// have Mediterranean climates zones are also prone to wildfires because of the long drought period which dries out the vegetation to easily burn. Fires have mostly been caused by lightning. Some of the after-effects after wildfires have experienced flooding, excessive soil erosion and landslides.

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