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Most Powerful Earthquakes in History

Geoff Riley

2nd May 2016

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Data produced by the US Geological Survey and reported in the Guardian finds that the 1960 Valdivia earthquake is the most powerful ever recorded with a magnitude of about 9.5. More recent events including the 2004 earthquake off the west coast of northern Sumatra and the 2011 earthquake off Japan's east coast were among the most powerful ever recorded. The graphic below provides a summary of the most powerful earthquakes the world has seen up to now.

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Geoff Riley

Geoff Riley FRSA has been teaching Economics for nearly forty years. He has over twenty years experience as Head of Economics at leading schools. He writes extensively and is a contributor and presenter on CPD and Revision conferences in the UK and overseas.

@tutor2uGeoff

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