What’s the Largest Earthquake Maine Has Ever Experienced?

Maine is not known for monster earthquakes, but we do get several each year.

Some are larger than others, but do you know how big Maine's largest earthquake was or when it occurred?

It's an interesting piece of trivia so let's explore the answer.

What's the Largest Earthquake Maine Has Ever Experienced?

According to Northeast States Emergency Consortium, Maine's strongest known earthquake rattled the state on March 21, 1904.

It had an estimated magnitude of about 5.9.

The epicenter was located somewhere between Bar Harbor and Passamaquoddy Bay and was felt from Nova Scotia to Connecticut.

NESEC says that damage to chimneys and masonry walls was reported in a number of towns in eastern Maine.

Damage was also reported in towns surrounding Passamaquoddy Bay in New Brunswick.

Has an earthquake centered in Maine ever caused extensive, widespread damage?

While damage linked to the 1904 quake was reported far from the state, the Maine Geological Survey says that no earthquake centered in Maine has ever caused significant damage.

MGS says that most earthquakes in Maine are of small magnitude and many are too small to feel.

Which part of Maine experiences the most earthquakes?

Over the years, earthquakes have occurred in every Maine county.

But according to MGS, both modern and historical records indicate that eastern, central, and southwestern parts of Maine have experienced the most earthquake activity.

Maine is certainly not considered an earthquake hotbed.

That title applies to the "Ring of Fire," an area surrounding the Pacific Ocean, where 90 percent of the world's earthquakes occur, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

But we do see a few quakes each year in Maine, and now you know a little something about the largest quake to ever shake Vacationland.