San Andreas Fault Quiz
Fault type, seismic impacts, California geography (10 questions).
San Andreas Fault Quiz: Quick Study Notes
The San Andreas Fault is one of the world’s most famous and active tectonic boundaries, slicing approximately 800 miles through California. It marks the dynamic meeting point where the Pacific Plate slides horizontally past the North American Plate.
Key Takeaways
- The fault is a continental transform boundary, meaning plates slide sideways past each other.
- The Pacific Plate is moving northwest relative to the North American Plate.
- Los Angeles (on the Pacific Plate) is slowly moving towards San Francisco (on the North American Plate).
- The fault has different behaviors: some segments are locked and produce big quakes, while others “creep” slowly.
- The 1906 San Francisco Earthquake is the most famous historical event on this fault.
- It terminates in the south near the Salton Sea and in the north at the Mendocino Triple Junction.
What type of fault is the San Andreas?
It is a right-lateral strike-slip fault, which is a type of transform plate boundary.
Will California fall into the ocean?
No. The western side of California is moving sideways (northwest) along the coast, not sinking into the ocean.
How fast do the plates move?
The average rate of slip is approximately 33 to 46 millimeters (1.3 to 1.8 inches) per year, roughly the speed at which fingernails grow.
Where does the fault start and end?
It runs from the Salton Sea in Southern California up to Cape Mendocino in Northern California.
What is the “Big One”?
The “Big One” refers to a hypothetical future earthquake of magnitude 7.8 or higher that is expected to occur along the southern segment of the fault.
GeoQuizzy Editorial Team is a collective of geography educators, researchers, and quiz designers dedicated to creating accurate, engaging, and exam-relevant geography content. The team focuses on physical geography, human geography, maps, landforms, climate, and world regions, transforming core concepts into interactive quizzes that support students, educators, and competitive-exam aspirants. Every quiz published on GeoQuizzy is carefully reviewed for factual accuracy, clarity, and alignment with academic curricula and standardized exams.