miles below the surface (unusually close to the surface in USGS standards).
For those who are unaware, the plate boundary that is held responsible for such geologic activity
activity runs through the region that’s located mostly along the edge of north India and surrounding nations. The boundary is formed by two tectonic plates that have a continental-continental convergent boundary, which forms massive mountain ranges, and the plates include the Indian plate and the Eurasian plate, the prior which pushes northward into the latter and forms the Himalayas.
The severity of the Nepal earthquake is intensified also due to the fact that as a result of the geologic activity, avalanches ensued like no other. Considering Nepal is a heavily mountainous nation in general, many populations reside or resided on slope sides.
heavily mountainous nation in general, many populations reside or resided on slope sides.
on slope sides. Taking poor infrastructure into play, any housing and businesses, and public establishments in general, were essentially wiped out.
wiped out. Since roads too are built on slope sides, those too were wiped out. It gets worse because Nepal is at such a high elevation that not many parts are accessible by helicopter and air rescue due to thin air and low air pressure. What resulting infrastructure wasn’t wiped out quickly became overwhelmed with environmental refugees and those with injuries, particularly with local hospitals. All in all, the combination of geography, indirect events from the earthquake, and lack (though not necessarily absence) of development coincidentally co-aligned and exemplified the results of this particularly devastating geological event.
Here in the Twin Cities, we have an incredibly diverse cultural population.