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M 5.9, Lake Tennyson, February 10 1990

This earthquake occurred in North Canterbury near Lake Tennyson.

  • Location: Lake Tennyson
  • Date (NZ Daylight Time): Saturday, February 10 1990 at 4:27 pm
  • Epicentre: 42.25°S, 172.65°E
  • Focal Depth: 13 km
  • Maximum Intensity: MM 8
  • Magnitude: MW 5.9

This earthquake occurred in North Canterbury near Lake Tennyson and was followed within the next 30 minutes by aftershocks of ML 5.5 and 5.3. In the following week, portable digital equipment recorded over 4,000 aftershocks. The main shock shattered mountain ridges in the vicinity and snapped beech trees in the surrounding forest1. It was felt from Akaroa through to Wanganui.

1Seismological Observatory [New Zealand] Bulletin E 174, 1990. New Zealand Seismological Report 1988