An innocent curb in the Bay Area of San Francisco became the unlikely pilgrim’s journey for geologists back in the early seventies . Over the row of many years , this AMEX has slowly crept apart because of the seismal workings of the Hayward fracture – a geologic break that cuts across the east side of San Francisco Bay .
But now this geologic cult ikon is gone after an undignified destruction . One day in other June , metropolis hall demolished the curb to make means for a wheelchair - approachable ramp .
The red kerb and gray curb were originally affluent with each other when it was constructed more than 50 years ago . Each twelvemonth the two curbs became increasingly further and further asunder from each other , shifting an incredible 20 cm ( 7.8 inches ) , as a result of the fault ’s gradual " creep " .
“ It really was an iconic position on the Hayward fault , ” David Schwartz , a US Geological Survey geologist , severalise theLA Times .
you’re able to guide over to the web log ofSue Ellen Hirschfeld , a retired geology teacher at UC East Bay , which features photo of the curb record the fault shift , taken over thirty years , with the early from 1971 . There ’s also aFlickr album of the Hayward Faultthat documents many simulacrum of the check .
The 72 - kilometer - long ( 45 mile)Hayward faulthas generatedtwelve major earthquakesin the last 1900 twelvemonth – create an earthquake on average every 160 years . The last of these large quake was in 1868 , 140 years ago . Although its effects were particularly obtrusive on this curb , the fault matchwood beneath many of the urban center ’s major roads and buildings .
Schwartz mourned the curb ’s untimely demise , saying how he felt it could have truly impart geology to life for the public : “ If it was up to us , we would put signs up on all of these participating mistake … I recollect they ’d [ the authorities ] call up it ’s negative promotional material . But I cerebrate it ’s informative to the public , ” he said .
Nevertheless , he ominously concluded : “ The fault will have its revenge . ”
Main image credit : missyleone / Flickr(CC BY 2.0 )
