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U.S. Geological Survey
Scientific Investigations Map 2919

Map of Quaternary-active Faults in the San Francisco Bay Region

By R.W. Graymer, William Bryant, C.A. McCabe, Suzanne Hecker, and C.S. Prentice

2006

Published in commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the 1906 earthquake

thumbnail sketch of the map

Some of the first steps to understanding the hazard posed by a fault are to know where the fault is, when it last generated an earthquake, and how fast strain is building up that will generate an earthquake in the future. A map of Quaternary-active faults is one of the basic tools to understand the earthquake hazard of a region.

With heightened public awareness about earthquake hazards leading up to the 100th anniversary of the 1906 San Francisco earthquake, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) is releasing new maps of the San Francisco Bay Area designed to give residents and others a new look at the geologic history and hazards of the region. The “Map of Quaternary-active Faults in the San Francisco Bay Region” shows faults that have pushed up mountains and generated earthquakes over the past 2 million years, and are likely to be the source of the next major earthquake in the region. The map also includes answers to common questions about faults.

Download this poster in standard resolution as a PDF document (36 x 48 inches; 6.3 MB)

Download this poster in high resolution as a PDF document (36 x 48 inches; 62.6 MB)

Download the companion poster to this one: USGS Scientific Investigations Map 2918, Geologic Map of the San Francisco Bay Region, by R.W. Graymer, B.C. Moring, G.J. Saucedo, C.M. Wentworth, E.E. Brabb, and K.L. Knudsen

For questions about the content of this report, contact Russ Graymer

Version history

Logo of stylized seismogramVisit the 1906 Earthquake Centennial Alliance.

Visit the San Francisco Bay Region Geology and Geologic Hazards website.

Visit the Earthquake Hazards Program – Northern California website.


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Printed copies of the poster are available for $7 each from:

USGS Information Services, Box 25286,
Federal Center, Denver, CO 80225
telephone: (888) ASK-USGS; e-mail: infoservices@usgs.gov


| Department of the Interior | U.S. Geological Survey |
URL of this page: https://pubs.usgs.gov/sim/2006/2919/
Maintained by: Michael Diggles
Date created: April 18, 2006
Date last modified: April 24, 2006 (mfd)