On October 21, 1868, a magnitude 6.8 earthquake struck the San Francisco Bay area. Although the region was sparsely populated, the quake on the Hayward Fault was one of the most destructive in California’s history.

The Hayward Fault Zone is a right-lateral strike-slip geologic fault zone capable of generating destructive earthquakes. The fault was first named in the Lawson Report of the 1906 San Francisco Earthquake in recognition of its involvement in the earthquake of 1868. [1]

Interactive story map showing 62 field trip stops for exploring the Hayward Fault in the East San Francisco Bay Region of California.

The Hayward Fault is considered one of the most dangerous in the world because scientists believe it is due for a large earthquake and because it runs under a densely populated area of California.

Explore the science behind a simulation of a magnitude 7 earthquake on the East Bay's Hayward Fault and learn what it could mean for shaking potential in your area.

Explore the science behind a simulation of a magnitude 7 earthquake on the East Bay's Hayward Fault and learn what it could mean for shaking potential in your area.

Hayward Fault Map and Tour. This map is informational only and is not a regulatory map. Official state Earthquake Fault Zone maps that govern construction setbacks and disclosure are produced by the California Geological Survey.

The Hayward fault, a major branch of the right-lateral San Andreas fault system, traverses the densely populated eastern San Francisco Bay region, California. We conducted a paleoseismic investigation to better understand the Hayward fault's past earthquake behavior.

The Hayward fault is not our only fault. It is a member of the San Andreas Fault system that runs from the Gulf of California in the south, to Cape Mendocino in the north. The San Andreas Fault system forms the boundary between the North American and the Pacific tectonic plates.

Aug 28, 2018 · On October 21, 1868, a magnitude 6.8 earthquake struck the San Francisco Bay area. Although the region was sparsely populated, the quake on the Hayward Fault was one of the most destructive in California’s history.