Dormant ‘Sleeping Giant’ Fault Awakens, Triggering Dozen Earthquakes in US Town
Idaho Town Hit by 12 Earthquakes in 24 Hours Near "Sleeping Giant" Fault
Stanley, Idaho—a historic gold rush town—has experienced a swarm of 12 earthquakes over the past day, according to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). The tremors, ranging from magnitude 2.5 to 3.4, began Sunday afternoon, with no damage reported so far.
Image: Map of Idaho highlighting Stanley and the Sawtooth Fault (Caption: Stanley lies near the seismically active Sawtooth Fault.)
Stanley sits adjacent to the Sawtooth Fault, a 40-mile-long fracture in central Idaho discovered in 2010. Despite its ancient origins, the fault gained attention after a 2020 magnitude 6.5 quake—one of Idaho’s largest in decades—which caused landslides, liquefaction at Stanley Lake, and was felt across six U.S. states and Canada. Experts warn the fault, dubbed a “sleeping giant,” could unleash quakes exceeding magnitude 7.0, capable of severe damage hundreds of miles away.
How Earthquakes Form
Most earthquakes result from tectonic plates—massive rock slabs—grinding against each other. Stress builds along their edges until friction gives way, releasing energy as seismic waves. The Sawtooth Fault is part of the Basin and Range Province, a region stretching for millions of years, creating north-south fractures like this one.
2020 Quake’s Impact
The 2020 tremor caused Stanley Lake’s beach to collapse due to liquefaction, where water-saturated sediment turns fluid-like. “Large cracks and sand boils formed along the shore,” the USGS reported. The quake also triggered avalanches and rockfalls.
Image: Aerial view of Stanley Lake showing collapsed shoreline (Caption: The 2020 earthquake caused liquefaction, sinking parts of Stanley Lake’s beach.)
Uncovering the Fault’s Secrets
Following the 2020 event, scientists used lidar mapping to reveal the Sawtooth Fault isn’t a single crack but a network of segments. Trenches dug across the fault exposed soil layers shifted by ancient quakes, including one ~9,000 years ago. More studies aim to decode its full seismic history.
While current tremors remain minor, the Sawtooth Fault’s potential for larger quakes keeps geologists vigilant.
Image: USGS lidar map of the Sawtooth Fault (Caption: Lidar reveals the fault’s segmented structure, critical for predicting future risks.)
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Note for visuals: Include images of Stanley’s landscape, the fault map, liquefaction effects, and lidar data to enhance the shortened text.
