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2011 Colorado earthquake

Coordinates: 37°04′N 104°42′W / 37.07°N 104.7°W / 37.07; -104.7
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2011 Colorado earthquake
2011 Colorado earthquake is located in Colorado
2011 Colorado earthquake
UTC time2011-08-23 05:46:18
USGS-ANSSComCat
Local dateAugust 22, 2011
Local time23:46:18 MDT[1]
Magnitude5.3 Mw[1]
Depth2.6 mi (4.2 km)[1]
Epicenter37°04′N 104°42′W / 37.07°N 104.7°W / 37.07; -104.7
TypeDip-slip
Areas affectedColorado
United States
Max. intensityMMI VII (Very strong)[1][2]

The 2011 Colorado earthquake occurred on August 22 at 11:46 PM MDT with a moment magnitude of 5.3 and a maximum Mercalli intensity of VII (Very Strong). The epicenter of the intraplate earthquake was 10 mi (20 km) west northwest of Trinidad, Colorado, and 180 mi (290 km) south of Denver, according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS).[1][3][4][5][6] It was the largest natural earthquake to affect Colorado for more than a hundred years.[3]

The earthquake occurred as part of a swarm of smaller quakes that started the previous day. The last time the Colorado region received a series of earthquakes was in 2001, when about a dozen smaller-sized temblors were recorded.[1] The shock occurred as a result of normal faulting and was similar in depth, style and location to the events that made up the 2001 swarm.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f "M5.3 – Colorado". United States Geological Survey. Retrieved August 3, 2018.
  2. ^ "Pager– M 5.3– Colorado". United States Geological Survey. 2011. Retrieved August 23, 2011.
  3. ^ a b Johnson, Kirk (August 23, 2011). "Rare Strong Earthquake Hits Colorado". The New York Times. Retrieved August 23, 2011.
  4. ^ "Minor damage from magnitude-5.3 Colorado quake". Associated Press. August 23, 2011. Retrieved August 23, 2011.[dead link]
  5. ^ Williams, Alia (August 23, 2011). "Aftershocks continue to shake Colorado". KXRM. Archived from the original on October 8, 2012. Retrieved August 23, 2011.
  6. ^ "No major damage in region in wake of earthquake". The Times-Tribune (Scranton). August 23, 2011. Retrieved August 23, 2011.

Sources

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