Continental collision is still going on, with the Apulian and Eurasian plates still converging. The central zones of the Alps are rising too, causing vertical slip along the fault. The result is the set of major fault zones collectively named Periadriatic Seam. Movement along the Periadriatic Seam is the cause for the earthquake zone between Vienna and Friuli. The last destructive earthquake happened in Friuli in 1976.
The uplift caused violent erosion of the young orogen, which led to the formation of the Hohe Tauernwindow. At several regions a heavy uplift of the Central Alps by some kilometers took place, and also a shift of more than 50 km.
Geographic position and names
From east to west, the course of the Periadriatic Seam and the names given to it regionally are as follows: