What the record shows for Russia
The strongest earthquake on record near Russia is a magnitude 6.9 in 1950, centred 33 km NE of Turt, Mongolia - 76 years ago. The event is catalogued by USGS. See the event record.
Over the last 20 years, USGS has catalogued 432 earthquakes of magnitude 4 or greater within 1000 km of Russia - roughly 22 a year. That rate describes how often the ground moves enough to be recorded, not how often damage occurs; most of these are never felt.
The NOAA NCEI database records 2 tsunamis within 1000 km of Russia between 1862 and 1959. The most significant was in 1862 near Lake Baykal (Baikal), triggered by an M7.5 earthquake.
3 volcanoes are catalogued near Russia, including Jom-Bolok, Azas Plateau, Tunkin Depression. Volcanic systems generate their own earthquake swarms, which is why activity here can look different from a purely tectonic region.
Sources: USGS earthquake catalog, NOAA tsunami database, and the Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program. Figures update as the catalogs are revised.
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Russia’s Kamchatka peninsula and Kuril Islands are among the most seismically active regions on the Pacific Ring of Fire.
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 Russia.
Earthquake risk in Russia - FAQ
Is Russia at risk of earthquakes?
Yes. On average about 22 quakes a year nearby of magnitude 4+ within 1000 km, based on the last 20 years of USGS data. The strongest earthquake on record nearby is M6.9 in 1950.
What was the biggest earthquake in Russia?
The strongest earthquake on record near Russia is M6.9, in 1950 (33 km NE of Turt, Mongolia), from USGS.
Does Russia get tsunamis?
Yes - 2 tsunamis since 1862 (most recently 1959) within 1000 km, from the NOAA database.
How do I get earthquake warnings in Russia?
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.