CHAIN-WORD – 034

The answer to each clue below is a five-letter word, and the final two letters of one answer become the first two letters of the next word.

Earthquakes

Earthquakes can happen almost anywhere in the world. Most of them, however, take place on one of the world's two “earthquake belts,” which are long stretches that follow along mountain ranges and areas with active volcanoes. About 80% of the world's earthquakes happen along a belt which circles the Pacific Ocean. Called the “ring of fire”, this belt runs from the west coasts of North and South America, across the Pacific, and through the islands of Asia. A second, less active belt is between Europe and North Africa around the Mediterranean Sea and includes parts of Asia.

Earthquake Stories

According to Indian mythology, the world rests on the head of a great elephant, Muha-pudma, and when, for the sake of rest, the huge monster refreshes itself by moving its head, an earthquake is produced. The lamas say that the earth is placed on the back of a gigantic frog and when it moves its limbs or its head, it shakes the earth. Other eastern myths place the earth on the back of a tortoise. Greek and Roman mythologists say earthquakes are due to the restlessness of the giants whom jupiter buried under high mountains.