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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Tuesday, April 27, 2010

Violence of Baja earthquake seen in desert fish video


Associated Press

DEATH VALLEY NATIONAL PARK, Calif. — The violence of this month's big Baja California earthquake was captured in scientists' video of tiny fish that live in a deep Mojave Desert cavern.

The U.S. Geological Survey says researchers studying a spawning site of the endangered Devils Hole pupfish had just reconnected cameras 10 minutes before the magnitude-7.2 quake struck on April 4.

The video shows the glassy water begin to stir and then whip into a froth worthy of a washing machine.

The USGS says oscillations lasted 15 minutes, but fish returned to the site five minutes after the water calmed.

Devils Hole is part of California's Death Valley National Park but is located just outside the park boundary in Nevada.

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On the Net:

Devils Hole pupfish video: http://bit.ly/aLCs7x