Earthquakes In Montana

Earthquakes happen regularly in Montana.

Most of them happen without much fanfare as we're unaware that they're taking place. According to the Gallatin County Emergency Managemen t, Montana has, on average, 7 to 10 earthquakes a day, which makes it the 4th most seismically active state in the country.

The reason? Yellowstone National Park.

Yellowstone was created by one of the largest volcanic systems in the world, and because the system is still active, thousands of earthquakes take place around the park each year.

READ MORE: Where is Montana's highest peak?

A 2.6 earthquake struck southwestern Montana on April 20th, just west of Yellowstone National Park however, there was little made about it as it didn't result in significant damage. This is normally the case with the earthquakes that take place in the Treasure State.

Montana has had some sizeable earthquakes, including the 14th largest earthquake in U.S. history that took place back in 1959.

What happened on August 17th, 1959, in Montana?

The Hebgen Lake Earthquake took place on August 17th, 1959, and resulted in the death of 28 people. The 7.5 earthquake hit late in the evening on that August night and could be felt as far away as Puerto Rico and Hawaii.

Not only was there loss of life, but the earthquake triggered one of the largest landslides in the country, which would result in the formation of "Quake Lake" as over 80 million tons of rock would cut off the Madison River to form the new lake.

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The Hebgen Lake Earthquake was the largest in state history. Before that were the Helena Earthquakes that took place back in 1935 and 1936

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Check out the biggest man-made and natural disasters to take place in Montana below.

Montana's 8 Worst Natural And Man-Made Disasters

Over the years, Montana has experienced significant natural and man-made disasters that have resulted in not only the loss of lives, but millions of acres lost, along with tens of millions of dollars in damages.

Gallery Credit: Derek Wolf

The Most "Montana" Towns In Montana

If you're looking for the best that Montana has to offer, you might want to start by asking a local and that is exactly what we did. We wanted to know which Montana towns were the most "Montana" and who better to ask than the folks who were born and raised in The Treasure State?

Gallery Credit: Derek Wolf

Montana's 6 Most Beautiful Places

Living in Big Sky Country has its perks. From breathtaking scenery to world-class skiing and fly fishing, Montana has a lot to offer. Not only are we home to hundreds of lakes and rivers, but we also claim two of the most famous National Parks in the country. Although it should be noted that we didn't include any spots in Yellowstone because it covers multiple states. So, which places in Montana are the most beautiful? Here's our Top 6.

Gallery Credit: Derek Wolf