Earthquakes are caused by the movement of tectonic plates. They can be triggered by volcanic activity, human activities such as mining, or even meteor impacts. Earthquakes release energy in the form of seismic waves that can cause damage to buildings and other structures. #Earthquakes can occur anywhere in the world, but they are most common along tectonic plate boundaries. The Richter scale is used to measure the #magnitude of earthquakes. The largest recorded earthquake had a magnitude of 9.5 and struck Chile in 1960. #Aftershocks, or smaller earthquakes that occur after the main earthquake, are common. Tsunamis can be caused by earthquakes, especially if they occur beneath the ocean. Buildings and infrastructure can be designed to be earthquake-resistant to minimize damage. Scientists can use seismographs to study earthquakes and predict where and when they are likely to occur.