Faultlines

Not surprisingly we have been investigating plate tectonics a bit.
I have always loved this stuff and the age and restlessness of the landscape here makes finding evidence of geological theory pretty easy.
When you draw the Pacific Plate rim on the map, it really is no surprise that a 7.1 earthquake would happen here.
This series of islands that we call home exist because of geological activity on the edge of the Pacific Plate.

The thing is no one expected such an earthquake with an epicentre in the middle of the Canterbury Plains. The main Alpine fault runs along the edge of the Southern Alps.
Ah, but the Earth has ways of keeping her secrets and buried under 16,000 years of alluvium and gravel has slept this faultline that no one knew anything about.
It's a long time to build up pressure.

So although there have been a lot of aftershocks and some of them fairly hefty, they are mainly ok with me. Letting off a bit of pressure seems like a pretty healthy thing for a faultline to do. I'm happy to go with the disturbed sleep.
It's been a time when being together is important. Taking care of those who need it, sharing the stories, helping out with the practical cleaning up and laughing when we can.
The superb timing of the big shake, when most people were tucked up in bed, close to their families and out of harms way, is what we are all most grateful for.
We hold hands and give thanks.