California’s blockbuster San Andreas Fault has reached its highest stress level in 1,000 years, University of Hawai’i researchers warn.
The 750-mile fault line has not produced a major earthquake in more than 160 years, when the 7.9-magnitude Fort Tejon earthquake ruptured 225 miles. The intertwined San Jacinto Fault, which is more active than San Andreas, is in a similar position, the researchers noted in a study published last week. It hasn’t seen a big quake since Christmas Day 1899.
