Alaska Earthquake - March 27：美国历史上的今天

内容导读：美国历史上最严重的地震灾害，发生在1964年3月27日的阿拉斯加。

The worst earthquake ever to strike North America happened in Alaska 阿拉斯加州 on March 27, 1964. It registered 8.3 on the Richter scale. The Richter scale measures the force of an earthquake in steps from 1 to 10, with 10 being the greatest amount.

The earthquake began at 5:36 p.m. A 100,000-square-mile area — about the size of Illinois and Indiana 一 was shifted 位移 by the earthquake. In some places, the land was raised over 30 feet.

The worst damage was in Anchorage, Alaska's largest city. The entire downtown business section was leveled 夷为平地. Whole streets dropped as much as 20 feet. Cars and shattered 破碎的 buildings piled on top of each other. Water pipes broke. Gas and electricity were knocked out 破坏. Telephone service was down 瘫痪.

Landslides 山崩, rock slides, and snow avalanches 雪崩 occurred in other parts of southern Alaska. In one landslide, 77 homes tumbled 倒塌 over a cliff into a bay. Tidal waves wiped out several small settlements and Indian villages along the coastline. Altogether, 131 people lost their lives in the earthquake.

The earthquake caused giant waves to pound 拍击 coastal regions In Canada, Oregon, and California. Its force was felt as far away as Japan and Hawaii. In Houston, Texas 得克萨斯州, sections of earth moved up or down nearly five inches. Water in swimming pools spilled over their edges.

Aftershocks 余震 from the earthquake went on for weeks. Six months after the first trembles were felt, the earth still trembled in Alaska.

本文内容选自上海外语教育出版社引进出版的《听读美国小故事》第3册（3月）。如需购买，可到当当、亚马逊、京东等网上书城去看看。