Atacama Fault
strike-slip — 1,000 km
The Atacama Fault System is a major north-south trending fault running through the Atacama Desert in northern Chile. It is one of the longest continuous fault systems in South America, active since the Jurassic period, and closely linked to the subduction processes along the Chilean coast.
Type
strike slip
Length
1,000 km
Countries
1
Linked Cities
2
Last Major Earthquake
M8.5 — Atacama, Chile (1922-11-11)
Affected Countries
Cities Near This Fault
General tectonic context only—not a site-specific hazard assessment. Live event data: USGS Earthquake Hazards Program.