Triple junction

A triple junction is the point where three tectonic plates diverge. These points are often near the epicenter of major megathrust earthquakes. For example: the triple junction of the Juan de Fuca Plate, the Pacific Plate and the North American Plate is close to the epicenter of the 1700, moment magnitude 9.0, Cascadia Earthquake; the triple junction of the Nazca Plate, the Antarctic Plate and the South American Plate is close to the epicenter of the 1960, moment magnitude 9.5, Great Chilean Earthquake and the triple junction of the Burma Plate, the India Plate and the Australian Plate is close to the epicenter of the 2004, moment magnitude 9.0, Indian Ocean Earthquake. Research on this connection is ongoing.