a) Seismicity of Nicaragua
The earthquake occurrence in Nicaragua obeys to the location of the country in the Pacific margin of the tectonic plate of the Caribbean. The relative movement of the Coco plate is convergent with the Caribbean plate to a rate of eight centimeters, approximately for year. In the zone of contact between the plates the Coco and the Caribbean forts take place earthquakes, of which most of them they are not perceivable by the population and some others are the sufficiently power thing and can give to origin to tidal waves or tsunamis like happened the 2 of October of 1992.
The Coconut plate bends and it sinks underneath the plate of the Caribbean, process that is known him like subduction. The material of the Coconut plate is based on the depth of the Earth mantle, where very high temperatures prevail. Part of the fused material, the magma, raises towards the Earth surface and produces volcanos. For that reason, associated to the zone of subduction a parallel volcanic chain to the coasts of the Pacific exists, which also presents/displays many geologic faults that generate earthquakes with little deep centers.
The local fallamiento in the Volcanic Chain is an important element that it takes part in the occurrence of earthquakes in the national territory, which has produced strong earthquakes like the one of the earthquake of Managua in 1972. In the mountainous zone and the Atlantic of Nicaragua and the Caribbean Sea the push of the plate Coconuts generates great tensions in the Caribbean plate and seismic movements in the local geologic faults. For that reason, important earthquakes have also taken place in these zones. Earthquakes in the volcanic chain, in the mountainous zone, the Atlantic and the Caribbean Sea happen in depths until approximately 30 km, while earthquakes in the zone of subduction can happen until in depths of 250 km Seeing Map: Epicenter of the earthquakes located in 2002Epicenter of the earthquakes located in 2002
2002Epicenter of the earthquakes located in 2002
b) Historical earthquakes
1528 Destruction of Leon Viejo (first capital)
1609 strong Earthquakes in Leon Viejo (exoduses of the population), Eruption of the volcano motombo
1648 strong Earthquake in Leon (new city)
1663 Earthquake affects Leon (VIII) and Granada (VII), Change of the channel of the river San Juan.
1835 strong Earthquakes accompany the catastrophic eruption by Cosigüina volcano
1844 Earthquake destroys Rivas (VIII), San Juan of the North (VII), Changes of the Tipitapa river
1844 Earthquake in San Juan of the North (VIII)
1848 Earthquake, eruption of Momotombo volcano
1850 strong Earthquake in Leon (VII)
1859 Earthquake in Guatemala, El Salvador, Nicaragua. Tsunami.
1865 Earthquakes between both lakes, changes in the Tipitapa river
1885 strong Earthquake in Leon (VIII-IX), Managua (VII), Chinandega (VII)
1898 strong Earthquake in Leon (VII-VIII), Managua (VII-VIII), Chinandega (VII)
1916 strong Tremor in Rivas (VI-VII)
1916 strong Earthquake in Nicaragua. M=7.3
1923 Earthquake in Jinotega (VI-VII)
1926 strong Earthquake in Managua (VII-VIII), Leon (VI-VII), Granada, Masaya, Chinandega, San Juan of the South (all VI)
1931 strong Earthquake destroys Managua (VIII)
1950 strong Earthquake in Costa Rica, Nicaragua and El Salvador (M=7.7), Tsunami.
1951 Earthquake opens a slope of Cosiguina Volcano. Mud avalanche cause damages in Potosí
1956 strong Earthquake in Nicaragua
1958 strong Earthquake in Managua (V-VI), Mateare (VIII)
1967 strong Tremor in Managua (v)
1968 Earthquake in Managua, Central America Colony (VIII), Granada (IV), Masaya (IV)
1972 Earthquake destroys Managua (VIII-IX, M=6.2), 10,000 dead ones
c) Excellent earthquakes in the last 30 years
1985 Earthquake in the Lake of Nicaragua - Damages to buildings in Rivas. Damage in Church of Potosí
1992 Earthquake of Mw=7.6 Magnitude as opposed to the coasts of Masachapa that originated
a 172 tidal wave which caused dead and ample destruction in all coast of the Pacific of Nicaragua.
1999 Earthquakes related to the eruption of the Volcano Black Hill - Destruction of houses in Puerto Momotombo
2000 Earthquakes of magnitude ML=5.4 in the Lagoon of Support and ML=5.2 in Masaya. 5 dead ones. Destruction of houses in Masaya and other cities near the Lagoon of Apoyo.2002 Earthquakes registered in Managua, South Hills and Highway. Senses
forts by the population, did not cause damages to the infrastructure. Magnitudes smaller than 3 in the scale of Richter and depths smaller than 6Km.
2002 strong Earthquake in the Volcano Small house. Partial damages to the infrastructure where they are located to the antennas of television and radio.
2002 strong Earthquakes in the mining triangle and the Caribbean Sea as opposed to coasts of Bluefields
2003 Earthquakes registered in the lake of Managua. They were felt strong, without damages to the Infrastructure. Magnitudes smaller than 3 in the scale of Richter and depth smaller than 10Km.