Earthquake - a natural hazard which can cause numerous destructions and the human victims. In Novosibirsk such natural cataclysm is considered to be improbable, however the latest events proved that it is not absolutely right.
Novosibirsk is the large city in the Siberian region located on the outskirts of the large mountain system - Salair Ridge.
Seismic zone of Novosibirsk
Experts in the field of studying such difficult natural phenomenon as the earthquake, is considered to be that Novosibirsk - one of the most safe areas in terms of seismic activity even in comparison with other regions of Siberia. So, the Republic of Tyva, the Kemerovo region and the Republic Mountain Altai which are located relatively near the city is much more dangerous in this regard as are located in close proximity to the extensive massif.
The maximum intensity of an earthquake which experts are theoretically ready to allow concerning the territory of the city of Novosibirsk is about 6 points on the Richter scale, force of these natural phenomena accepted for measurement. At the same time even the satellite town of Berdsk located in several dozen kilometers from Novosibirsk is considered researchers more dangerous zone where earthquakes measuring up to 7 points are potentially possible.
Scientifically established maximum seismicity characteristic of the territory of Novosibirsk is the basis for key parameters of all standard urban development. It means that in case of an earthquake measuring 6 points or less city constructions have to sustain influence verses and not collapse.
Earthquakes in Novosibirsk
In spite of the fact that among experts it is considered to be the territory of Novosibirsk seismically inactive zone, the events which took place in the city in recent years disprove this statement. In particular, since 2000 in the territory of the city several tremors were recorded. However it is necessary to specify that all of them were echoes of stronger earthquakes which occurred in the neighboring regions. So, the most intensive natural phenomenon such was recorded in 2003: it turned out to be consequence of tremors in Altai Republic which force reached 8 points on the Richter scale. In Novosibirsk the echoes of these pushes reached intensity in 4 points. In 2011 the echo of two earthquakes came at once to Novosibirsk. The first of them happened in February in Yarmakovsky district of Krasnoyarsk Krai, and the second - in December of the same year in the Republic of Tyva. One more earthquake occurred in the same place in February, 2012. However in all these three cases amplitude of fluctuations recorded in Novosibirsk was from 1 to 2.5 points, that is was not too strong.