Science Source Stock Photo - Road cutting through the San Andreas fault

Road cutting through the San Andreas fault

Description: San Andreas fault. Vehicles on a road cutting through the San Andreas seismic fault in California, USA. The strata in the rock which forms the cliff have been twisted and folded by tectonic forces. The fault marks the boundary between the Pacific and North American tectonic plates. The fault is a source of earthquakes because these plates are moving relative to each other. Friction between the rocks on each side of the fault can temporarily prevent local movement. The stress at the fault increases until the friction is overcome and there is a sudden movement of ground which causes an earthquake. Photographed on Highway 14 near Palmdale, California.

Credit:

Martin Bond/Science Source

Unique identifier: SS2217989

Legacy Identifier: SE2044

Type: Image

Size: 4673px × 3832px (~51 MB)

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