The record-breaking earthquake and subsequent tsunami that struck Japan early Friday is a bleak reminder of the havoc natural disasters can have on populated cities -- especially those in high-risk areas, such as along major fault lines. Take a look at five cities that are most at risk for similar disasters due to their location.
- Built exactly at the triple intersection of three major tectonic plates -- the North American plate, the Philippine plate, and the Pacific plate -- Tokyo is constantly on the move.
- The San Andreas of the East, Istanbul’s strike-slip North Anatolian fault is the world’s longest with ruptures that have been ripping westward through the fault line since 1939.
- Over the last 700 years, powerful quakes have struck the Los Angeles region every 45-144 years. The last major quake was a 7.9-magnitude temblor that hit 153 years. In other words, L.A. is due for another "big one."
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