The Great Quake

The Great Quake: How the Biggest Earthquake in North America Changed Our Understanding of the Planet by Henry Fountain Summary: In the bestselling tradition of Erik Larson’s Isaac’s Storm, The Great Quake is a riveting narrative about the biggest earthquake in North American recorded history -- the 1964 Alaska earthquake that demolished the city of Valdez and swept away the island village of Chenega -- and the geologist who hunted for clues to explain how and why it took place. At 5:36 p.m. on March 27, 1964, a magnitude 9.2. earthquake – the second most powerful in world history – struck the young state of Alaska. The violent shaking, followed by massive tsunamis, devastated the southern half of the state and killed more than 130 people.  A day later, George Plafker, a geologist with the U.S. Geological Survey, arrived to investigate.  His fascinating scientific detective work in the months that followed helped confirm the then-controversial theory of plate tectonics. In a compelling tale about the almost unimaginable brute force of nature, New York Times science journalist Henry Fountain combines history and science to bring the quake and its aftermath to life in vivid detail.  With deep, on-the-ground reporting from Alaska, often in the company of George Plafker, Fountain shows how the earthquake left its mark on the land and its people -- and on science. Angie’s comments: The book covers more than the 1964 Alaska earthquake: it covers some of the developments in geology before 1964 and how that knowledge changed with the 1964 Alaska earthquake. Much of the book is focused on George Plafker, but there are many personal stories about the effect of the earthquake. The story of Chenega and its inhabitants are especially featured, and add a human element to the tragedy. Pictures are included. Recommended for readers interested in geology and/or stories about natural disasters. Request this item