Final Hazards Report

            Ecuador is a beautiful place to visit because it’s diverse topography and so much more. People come from all around the world to spend a once in a lifetime trip to see the Galapagos Islands, the only location in the world where many rare species of wildlife can be found. But for those interested in visiting Ecuador and those that already live there, it is very important to be aware of the potential hazards. Compared to most areas on the continent, the region is a bit more vulnerable to the potential risk of all natural hazards. But some are to be more concerned about then others, such as earthquakes.

            The possibility of an earthquake occurring in the region is much more likely then that of any other hazard. If an excessively large quake were to occur the damage could be overwhelmingly catastrophic and it could also lead to other events such as a tsunami, and land/rockslides etc. As mentioned in a previous post, Ecuador is located above the Nazca Plate, which subducts beneath the South American Plate creating a thrust fault. At about 79mm per year, the Nazca Plate moves eastward towards the South American Plate. The Nazca Plate has produced the largest earthquake ever recorded by seismographs and it is constantly moving, carrying heavy risks and creating serious concern for those that are aware of the issue (like the government and geologists).

            Certain parts of Ecuador are more susceptible to damage caused by earthquakes or a tsunami. Areas on the coast such as the Esmeraldas down to the coast of Salinas are most definitely vulnerable to a tsunami if one were to occur. Going back to the risk of earthquakes, there are a few ways to mitigate damage caused by one that is very large. But with proper soils used as a foundation like Bedrock, and structures that are built with durable construction, damage can be avoided. By using soils such as Bedrock, damage is much less likely to occur to structures because the soil is dense and compact. This could also help prevent damage from flooding and other potential risks. It would be pertinent to focus on building specs that are near the coast first because they are at greatest risk of damage from an earthquake/tsunami.

            For those who want to build a house in Ecuador it would be strongly recommended to do it approximately fifty miles from the coast, like a location such as Quito. The location of Quito sits approximately 9,350 feet above sea level keeping it distant from any coastal hazards. As mentioned, new buildings must be built above bedrock and at least one to two hundred yards away from any hills that could eventually succumb to a land/rockslide. Ecuador would be a great place to build a home but doing so without any knowledge of the it’s natural hazards could lead to serious damage and/or death to the occupants within the home. That is why it is essential to be aware of these risks.  

References:

https://www.geolsoc.org.uk/Plate-Tectonics/Chap3-Plate-Margins/Convergent/Oceanic-continental

http://www.mapsofworld.com/ecuador/maps/ecuador-map.jpg

http://earthquaketrack.com/p/ecuador/recent