Story: Historic earthquakes

Offset along the Awatere Fault (2nd of 2)

Offset along the Awatere Fault

This view of the Awatere Fault looks south-east at the back of Altimarloch Station. It was taken in 1888 by geologist Alexander McKay 40 years after the 1848 earthquake, when the fault ruptured. The vegetation has regrown, but the offset of the land surface is quite clear. McKay’s observations in 1888 were fundamental in clarifying the relationship between earthquakes and faulting.

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GNS Science
Reference: 4895
Photograph by Alexander McKay

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How to cite this page:

Eileen McSaveney, 'Historic earthquakes - The 1848 Marlborough earthquake', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/4390/offset-along-the-awatere-fault (accessed 4 December 2023)

Story by Eileen McSaveney, published 12 Jun 2006, reviewed & revised 28 Mar 2011, updated 1 Nov 2017