The so-called Hebgen Earthquake struck just outside Yellowstone volcano’s western border on August 17, 1959. Seismographs recorded a magnitude 7.3 event at 6.37am BST (11.37pm ST) around 6.5 miles west-northwest of West Yellowstone, Montana. The earthquake killed 28 people after triggering devastating landslides in Madison Canyon. Officials at the US Geological Survey (USGS) estimate the landslides shifted about 50 million cubic yards of mud and rock down towards a Rock Creek campground below.
Even more terrifyingly, the landslides blocked off Madison River, which led to the birth of Earthquake Lake from the backed up water.
Now, as the 60th anniversary of the cataclysm approaches, USGS officials warn another such earthquake is more likely to happen than a Yellowstone eruption.
Jamie Farrell, chief seismologist at the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory (YVO) branch of the USGS, desired the event in the weekly USGS Caldera Chronicles.
He said: “The combination of the landslide, fault scarps and damaged highways trapped many tourists in the canyon that night.
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“In addition, the sudden northward tilting of the basin caused Hebgen Lake to slosh back and forth. This is referred to as a seiche wave.
“The waves were so large that they breached the Hebgen lake dam a few times, leading panicked tourists to think the dam had failed.
“Luckily, the dam did not fail and the waves eventually died off.”
To date, the Hebgen Lake earthquake remains the largest to strike in the Northwest US’ Intermountain West region.
The earthquake blocked off roads and damaged Yellowstone’s Old Faithful Inn when a large chimney collapsed.
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A day after the earthquake, many of Yellowstone’s hydrothermal features were going haywire with an unusual amount of scorching eruptions.
According to Professor Farrell, at least 289 springs in the geyser basin of Firehole River had erupted like geysers.
Out of the erupting springs, at least 160 had no previous history of eruptions.
The geologist said: “During the first few days after the earthquake, most springs began to clear, but several years passed before clearing was generally complete.
“In addition, new hot ground soon developed in some places and this became more apparent by the following spring with the formation of new fractures in sinter and linear zones of dead or dying trees.”
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Just before the earthquake as well, Sapphire Pool in Biscuit Basin was seen erupting every 17 to 20 minutes at a height between three to six feet.
After the earthquake, the same pool was shooting water up to heights of six to eight feet.
Professor Farrell said: “Earthquakes happen nearly every day in the region, and occasionally the area produces strong earthquakes that are capable of affecting large areas and causing damage.
“We should expect similar effects if another earthquake of this size would to happen today, except there are many more people visiting the area today than there were in the summer of 1959.”