Getting up close with the Chi Chi Earthquake | Geoscience and Geohazards in Taiwan

By Julia Werth, Student Participant

The excitement and intrigue of a destructive earthquake or volcanic explosion are what drew many of us to the field of geoscience, but as residents of the United States’ geologically stable east coast, few of us have ever seen the results of a recent geologic event. In Taiwan, however, the results are all around us.

The Chi Chi Earthquake, more commonly known as 921 to the local Taiwanese, shocked the nation with its rapid displacement of the land, by 15 meters in spots, on September 21, 1999. The event caused the immediate destruction of bridges and houses and the creation of waterfalls and dams that would drastically change the area’s landscape over the following years.

Hearing about Chi Chi is interesting, no doubt, but to walk in the river bed, see the gorge and measure the strike and dip of the fault line it formed was absolutely fascinating.

After being greeted by smiling merchants selling plump grapes and juicy star fruit – which our driver kindly purchased for us – we headed off the street and onto the dried riverbed formed in only one typhoon season after chi chi to discover what evidence Chi Chi had left behind in the rocks around us.

Starfruit that our bus driver bought us at the mini Grand Canyon of Taiwan

Will joined us just last night and has already been talking and teaching none stop. Here he was pointing out the difference between the river terrace and current riverbed.

A clear example of how the chi chi earthquake displaced the beautiful bedding that Tim has been so excited about.

The gorge formed in only the past 10 years since the lake formed by the natural damn during Chi Chi overflowed.

Rhiannon and Melissa standing in front of the gorge formed by the aftermath of Chi Chi near the Da’an river.

A bridge we drove by that was destroyed by Chi Chi near the maximum point of uplift, about 15 meters.

A completely different landscape than just 15 years ago when Chi Chi rocked Taiwan.

Our class explored a trench at the Chelengou Fault Museum.

Will pointing out the perfect example of a fault and an earthquake in the carefully preserved walls of the trench.

The story of Chi Chi will be continued for us tomorrow when we explore the main Chi Chi Earthquake museum.