Canada’s west coast and the St. Lawrence valley are its most active regions; British Columbia sits on the Cascadia subduction zone. This page pulls real records for Canada: the largest earthquakes on record from USGS, how often the ground shakes nearby, tsunamis from the NOAA database, and volcanoes from the Smithsonian program. Nothing is guessed.
A quiet recent record is good news, but many damaging earthquakes strike places that were quiet for decades. The only real protection is a warning the moment the ground moves - which is exactly what the free QuakeMate app gives you, along with tsunami and volcano alerts for Canada.
Check Canada hazard risk in detail
An interactive breakdown of the earthquake, tsunami and volcano risk near Canada - or search any city or region.
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Earthquake risk in Canada - FAQ
Is Canada at risk of earthquakes?
Yes. On average about 1 quake every 2 years nearby of magnitude 4+ within 1000 km, based on the last 20 years of USGS data. The strongest earthquake on record nearby is M6.3 in 1905.
What was the biggest earthquake in Canada?
The strongest earthquake on record near Canada is M6.3, in 1905 (79 km SW of Hay River, Canada), from USGS.
Does Canada get tsunamis?
No tsunamis are recorded within 1000 km of Canada in the NOAA database - though coastlines everywhere carry some residual risk after a very large offshore quake.
How do I get earthquake warnings in Canada?
Download the free QuakeMate app for iPhone. It watches your location and sends a real-time push the instant a quake strikes nearby, plus tsunami and volcano alerts, with custom magnitude and distance rules. On Android, join the waitlist.