Did You Know That There Is An Earthquake Fault Line In Minnesota?

Did you hear about the earthquake that recently shook Wisconsin? There was a moderate earthquake that was recorded near Mole, Lake, Wisconsin. A 2.5-magnitude quake happened at about 7 AM on Sunday, January 7th.

Read Now: Earthquake Shakes Wisconsin

It's pretty rare to get an earthquake in the Midwest. Growing up on the Iron Range we would feel shakes from mine blasting, but I've never experienced an actual earthquake.

I was curious so I started looking up some facts about earthquakes in Minnesota. Did you know that there is a tectonic plate zone that runs right through the state?

Great Lakes Tectonic Zone

There's a fault line that runs from Traverse County to Duluth, Minnesota. Hundreds of millions of years ago, the Great Lakes were actually formed by volcanic eruptions and earthquakes. Those fault lines are still there and there still can be earthquakes in Minnesota.

17 Earthquakes Have Happened Along The Fault Line in Minnesota

There have been 17 earthquakes along the fault line. Two of the largest earthquakes were the 1975 Morris quake that registered at 4.6 magnitude. Another notable quake was the Staples earthquake in 1917. 

There Could Be Another Fault Line

Following the data, geologists suggest that there actually may be another hidden fault line adjacent to the Great Lakes Tectonic Zone.

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There has been damage to homes in Minnesota due to earthquakes.

The 1975 Morris quake caused some damage. Several homes had cracked foundations, items fell, walls cracked, and windows broke. It was a relatively unpopulated area so damage was minimal.

The History Channel series How The Earth Was Made had an episode that explained how the Great Lakes were formed, including the Great Lakes Tectonic Zone. It's also how Niagra Falls came to be.