M1.7 earthquake 15 km E of Big Sur, California

A magnitude 1.7 earthquake struck 15 km E of Big Sur, California on Mon, Aug 12, 1985, 10:05 AM PDT (17:05 UTC), 2 km (1 mi) below the surface.

A larger quake followed: M1.7 5 km E of Interlaken, California. This one was a foreshock.

Map

Where this earthquake was located, with the others nearby. Select one for its page.

No one has reported feeling this quake to the USGS.

Reviewed by a seismologist.

Distance and direction from each place to the epicenter, with its forecast.

Within 100 km, magnitude 1.5 and up: 96 in the 60 days after this one and 49 in the 30 days before it.

The first 60 of 96.

From the USGS Earthquake Hazards Program and its partner networks, event nc52806. Read Tue, Sep 22, 2026, 8:51 PM UTC.