The colors on the map above show the locations of the major lithospheric plates that make up the Earth's crust. Which city on the map is most likely to experience a major earthquake?

Question

A.
Paris
B.
Juneau
C.
Rio de Janeiro
D.
New York

Answer 1

To determine which city is most likely to experience a major earthquake, we should consider the location of these cities in relation to major tectonic plate boundaries, where earthquakes are more likely to occur.

• Paris is located in a relatively stable region of the Eurasian Plate, with a low likelihood of major earthquakes.
• Juneau, located in Alaska, is near the boundary between the North American Plate and the Pacific Plate, an area known for seismic activity.
• Rio de Janeiro is situated in a more stable region, away from major tectonic plate boundaries, making significant seismic activity less common.
• New York is also on a relatively stable part of the North American Plate, with a low likelihood of major earthquakes.

Given this information, the city most likely to experience a major earthquake is B. Juneau.