![](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/eot2008/20080917145642im_/http://www.ngdc.noaa.gov/hazard/icons/thumb/4/4_86.jpg) |
Earthquake of March 28, 1964, Prince William Sound, Alaska. The Prince William Sound earthquake was one of the largest earthquakes ever recorded on the North American Continent. It was a magnitude 8.4 earthquake, felt over 500,000 square miles. The quake took 137 lives and caused $350-500 million in property damage. The steel trusses of the Copper River and Northwestern Railroad bridge near Round
Island were shifted from one-third to two-thirds meter. This view shows
one of the displaced trusses, which pounded against an adjacent steel
girder span. The girder span was moved to the right, its concrete
pedestal was rotated, and the girder span almost fell into the river.
Note the shortening indicated by buckling of the guard rail. Photo
credit: U.S. Geological Survey, Menlo Park, CA |