Top 12: Largest Earthquakes by Magnitude

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An earthquake (also known as a quake, tremor or temblor) is the result of a sudden release of energy in the Earth’s crust that creates seismic waves.

Mw – Moment magnitude scale is used by seismologists to measure the size of earthquakes in terms of the energy released. The scale was developed in the 1970s to succeed the 1930s-era Richter magnitude scale.

1. 1960 Valdivia Earthquake (9.5 Mw)