Unlocking the Mystery of the San Andreas Fault and Earthquakes.

The drying of the Salton Sea in Southern California has reduced pressure on the San Andreas Fault and delayed a major earthquake, according to a recent study. The weight of the lake on the Earth's crust changes the stress in the area of the fault. Historically, six of the past seven major earthquakes in Southern California over the last 1,000 years occurred when the ancient Lake Cahuilla, located where the Salton Sea is now, was either filling or at its fullest. However, rapidly refilling the lake may increase the likelihood of an earthquake.