The Great Chicago Shakeup: Chances You'll Need to Duck and Cover (Spoiler Alert: Probably Not)
Living in a city like Chicago, you expect a certain level of excitement. Maybe a Cubs game that goes down to the wire, or that feeling you get when you snag the last deep dish slice before your friend. But what about earthquakes? Do you ever need to worry about the ground shaking and sending your ketchup flying?
Tremor-ible Turns Out, Earthquakes Are Rare in the Windy City
Let's get this out of the way first: major earthquakes are not a common occurrence in Chicago. The city rests smack dab in the middle of a tectonic plate, which means the ground is pretty darn stable. Earthquakes are more likely to happen where these plates meet and rub against each other (sorry, California).
Fun Fact: The last major earthquake in the Chicago area was way back in 1909, and it centered around Lombard, Illinois. So, you can see earthquakes are about as frequent as a Chicago Bears Super Bowl win (ouch, that burn might actually cause some tremors).
Now, If You're Looking for a Real Thrill...
Okay, so earthquakes might not be on the menu for Chicago excitement. But that doesn't mean you can't get your adrenaline pumping! Here are a few ideas:
- Challenge a local to a deep dish eating contest. That's an earthquake waiting to happen... in your stomach!
- Head to Navy Pier and ride the Ferris wheel. It's not quite a death-defying adventure, but hey, the views are pretty spectacular.
- Visit Chicago in the winter. The windchill will have you shivering so much you'll swear the ground is moving.
So there you have it. Earthquakes in Chicago? Not a major concern. But if you're looking for ways to get your heart racing, there are plenty of other options in this exciting city.