In 1868 a Lake George island reportedly sank following an earthquake and “tremendous upheaval of waters.” It was early January and newspapers around the state and elsewhere published a story similar to this quote from the Buffalo Daily Courier about “the sudden sinking of Recluse Island near Bolton, Lake George.” [Read more…] about 1868 Hoax: The Day a Lake George Island “Sank”
earthquakes
Earthquake Shakes New York; Plus Some NY Earthquake History
An earthquake, with an preliminary magnitude of 4.8, struck at 10:23 am Friday morning in Hunterdon County, in Northern New Jersey, about 45 miles west of New York City. The quake was felt across the Eastern Seaboard, including as far south as Baltimore and as throughout much of Upstate New York. [Read more…] about Earthquake Shakes New York; Plus Some NY Earthquake History
The Tale of a Lake Champlain Tsunami
The sharpest contrast between rivers and lakes is in water movement. While rivers flow inexorably downhill, lake water movement is more subtle. Anyone who has weathered a storm on a lake, however, can attest that less consistent water movement does not mean no water movement at all.
In fact, at one point, about 5,000 years ago, it seems a tsunami formed on Lake Champlain. [Read more…] about The Tale of a Lake Champlain Tsunami
New York State’s Most Destructive Earthquake
In the early morning hours of September 5, 1944, an Associated Press agent in Albany received information about an earthquake in northern New York. “Anybody killed?” he asked. When informed no one had been hurt, he showed little interest. Likewise, when the state geologist in Albany was notified that a whole lotta shakin’ was goin’ on, he said, “There is no need to be alarmed. It is improbable they [the quakes] will be anything but quite small.”
You win some, you lose some. In this case, both the reporter and geologist lost―big-time. They missed the call on what still stands as the most destructive earthquake in New York State history. [Read more…] about New York State’s Most Destructive Earthquake