The largest tidal wave, also referred to as tsunami, ever recorded was in Lituya Bay, Alaska on July 9, 1958. This massive tsunami holds the record for the tallest wave in history.
- This tsunami was triggered by a magnitude 7.8 earthquake along the Fairweather Fault.
- The subsequent landslide into the bay caused a displacement of water, resulting in a wave that reached an unprecedented height of 1,720 feet (about 524 meters).
- This wave wiped out all vegetation and trees up to this elevation on the bay's opposite shore, leaving a clear trimline which is still visible today [1].
However, it is important to make a distinction between tidal waves and tsunamis. The term tidal wave is a misnomer; tsunamis have nothing to do with tides. Tsunamis are seismic sea waves caused by disturbances such as underwater earthquakes or landslides, while tides are caused by gravitational forces exerted by the Sun and Moon.
Learn more:
- USGS Report on the Lituya Bay Mega-Tsunami
- 60 Years Ago Today | Alaska Earthquake Center
- The Earth-Shattering Wave | National Geographic