1959 Hebgen Lake earthquake
The 1959 Hebgen Lake earthquake (also known as the 1959 Yellowstone earthquake) occurred in the western United States on August 17 at 11:37 pm (MST) in southwestern Montana.
| UTC time | 1959-08-18 06:37:20 |
|---|---|
| ISC event | 882673 |
| USGS-ANSS | ComCat |
| Local date | August 17, 1959 |
| Local time | 23:37 (MST) |
| Magnitude | 7.2 Mw |
| Epicenter | 44.863°N 111.335°W ~15 miles (24 km) north of West Yellowstone, Montana, U.S. |
| Type | Dip-slip |
| Areas affected | southwestern Montana, Idaho, Wyoming |
| Max. intensity | MMI X (Extreme) |
| Casualties | 28+ dead |
The earthquake measured 7.2 on the moment magnitude scale, caused a huge landslide, resulted in over 28 fatalities and left $11 million (equivalent to $115 million in 2023) in damage. The slide blocked the flow of the Madison River, resulting in the creation of Quake Lake. Significant effects of the earthquake were also felt in nearby Idaho and Wyoming, and lesser effects as far away as Puerto Rico and Hawaii.
The 1959 quake was the strongest and deadliest earthquake to hit Montana, the second being the 1935–36 Helena earthquakes that left four people dead. It also caused the worst landslides in the northwestern United States since 1927.