Tens of thousands of earthquakes rock California each year. Many of these shakes originate in a boundary between the Pacific and North American tectonic plates that run through southern California, known as the San Andreas fault.
Someday, the Mojave section of this fault is expected to unleash a massive earthquake to rival any other in Los Angeles' past — dubbed the "Big One." Up to at least a 7.8 magnitude, this earthquake could wreak havoc on much of Southern California, potentially toppling buildings or triggering widespread evacuations.
