Fault System: It's a network of faults, not just a single crack.
Length: Extends over 800 miles through California.
Transform Fault: A boundary where the Pacific and North American plates slide past each other.
Movement: Moves about 1.5 inches per year.
Historical Discovery: Identified in 1895, famous after the 1906 San Francisco earthquake.
Major Earthquakes: Responsible for significant quakes like the 1857 Fort Tejon and 1989 Loma Prieta.
Earthquake Cycles: Major quakes occur approximately every 150 years in some segments.
"The Big One": Southern section is overdue for a major earthquake.