The United States Geological Survey recorded a Magnitude 2.8 Earthquake at a depth of 300 m in central Baja California, roughly 160 km to the southeast of Tijuana, slightly after 2.10 pm local time (slightly after 9.10 pm GMT) on Thursday 12 September 2013. An Earthquake of this size is unlikely to have caused any damage or injuries, but was probably felt locally.
The approximate location of the 12 September 2013 Earthquake. Google Maps.
The boundary between the Pacific and North American Plates runs beneath the Gulf of California, with Beja California lying on the Pacific Plate and the Mexican mainland on the North American. The Pacific Plate is moving northwest with regard to the North American Plate, while the North American Plate is moving southeast relative to the Pacific Plate. This creates a transform plate margin along the center of the Gulf of California, as the two plates slide past one-another, a margin that continues northward under California as the San Andreas Fault. The plates do not move past one-another smoothly, but continuously stick together then break apart as the pressure builds up, leading to regular Earthquakes beneath the Gulf of California and in the surrounding area.
See also Magnitude 3.1 Earthquake to the north of the Gulf of California, Magnitude 6.3 Earthquake off the coast of Baja California, Earthquake in the Gulf of California, Earthquake in the Gulf of California and Earthquakes in the Gulf of California.
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