1975 North Atlantic earthquake
| UTC time | 1975-05-26 09:11:51 |
|---|---|
| ISC event | 729431 |
| USGS-ANSS | ComCat |
| Local date | May 26, 1975 |
| Local time | 10:11:51 |
| Magnitude | 7.9 Mw 8.1 Ms |
| Depth | 33 km (21 mi) |
| Epicenter | 35°58′N 17°39′W / 35.97°N 17.65°W |
| Type | Strike-slip |
| Total damage | Limited |
| Max. intensity | MMI VI (Strong) |
| Tsunami | 2.1 m (6.9 ft) |
The 1975 North Atlantic earthquake occurred on May 26 at 09:11 UTC. The epicenter was located in the North Atlantic, in an area between the Azores, Iberian Peninsula, and Morocco. It had a magnitude of Mw 7.9, or Ms 8.1.
This was an intraplate earthquake that was located about 200 km south of the Gloria Fault, the presumed boundary between the African plate and the Eurasia Plate. It had a right-lateral strike-slip focal mechanism and was unusually large for an oceanic strike-slip event. Damage was reported in Madeira, which is about 250 km away. A tsunami of 0.3 m in maximum water elevation was recorded in Lagos, Portugal and an eyewitness reported a 2 m (6 ft 7 in) wave height at Ponta Delgada in the Azores.