The Earthquake Rose

On February 28, 2001, a magnitude 6.8 earthquake, located some thirty miles (48 km) below the surface of the Earth moved the ground for a bit more than half a minute. Damage was surprisingly light on account of the epicenter’s depth. A sand tracing pendulum located at a shop in Port Townsend, Washington, called Mind Over Matter (since moved to Sedona, Arizona), produced some very interesting patterns.

The smooth curves you see on the outside are what you normally see when someone sets the pendulum in motion. The seismic activity is responsible for the rose-shaped pattern you see in the middle. A beautiful design by one of nature’s most powerful forces.