Imagine a wave that reaches the height of a skyscraper and travels at the speed of a jet. Sounds like a scene from a disaster movie, doesn't it? But it's not fiction – the tallest wave in the world was 524 meters high. It formed in 1958 in the narrow Lituya Bay in Alaska. It was caused by a powerful underwater earthquake with a magnitude of eight points, which caused a huge landslide that brought mountains down into the sea. As a result of the natural disaster, the water rose to incredible heights, leaving traces of destruction that are still visible even from space.
Sometimes nature surprises us with huge waves that can cause serious destruction. Image source: meteovesti.ru
Contents
- 1 The largest wave in human history
- 2 Tsunami in Alaska in 1958
- 3 Record high waves in the world
- 3.1 The highest waves in Europe
- 3.2 The highest wave in Hawaii
- 3.3 Giant waves in Tasmania
The largest wave in human history
The aforementioned megatsunami in Lituya Bay— one of the most amazing and frightening natural phenomena ever recorded by man.
The disaster occurred on July 9, 1958 in Alaska. A powerful earthquake with a magnitude of 8.3 caused a huge landslide: about 30 million cubic meters of rocks and ice crashed into the waters of the bay with a roar. This caused the formation of a wave that reached a height of 524 meters, making it the largest recorded wave in the world.
Lituya Bay after the earthquake and tsunami. Image source: wikipedia.org
Lituya Bay— is a fjord with a unique geography that plays a key role in the formation of such abnormal waves. It is a T-shaped bay, 14 kilometers long and up to 3 kilometers wide, surrounded by high mountains and glaciers. The narrow entrance to the bay with a depth of only 10 meters and the features of the bay create ideal conditions for the amplification of wave oscillations. Waves over 50 meters high have been recorded here several times in the past, but the megatsunami of 1958 surpassed all previous records.
Lituya Bay today. Image source: istockphoto.com
The 1958 Alaska Tsunami
The epicenter of the earthquakewas just 21 kilometers from the bay, and the force of the tremors was so great that it caused a massive rockfall in the Gilbert Glacier area. A destructive flow of rocks and ice fell into the bay, causing a huge wave that hit the opposite slope with great force, sweeping away everything in its path.
Five people died in this disaster, and in the nearby settlement of Yakutat, bridges were destroyed and infrastructure was damaged. Fortunately, due to its remoteness from most of the civilized world, the giant wave was unable to cause large-scale destruction.
Glacier collapse can cause a powerful tsunami. Image source: wallpaperflare.com
Research conducted after the disaster showed that the level of the subglacial lake, located near the flood glaciers, dropped sharply by 30 meters. There are suggestions that the additional flow of water from this lake could have contributed to the strengthening of the wave. But the main role in its formation was still played by the record volume of rocks and ice that fell into the water.
Witnesses to the event, who were in their boats in the bay, recall how the Lituya Glacier, usually hidden from their view, literally “jumped” up, shaking and throwing up giant chunks of ice. Then a huge wall of water rushed towards them, leaving them only moments to escape.
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Record high waves in the world
While the megatsunami in Lituya Bay remains the highest, we should not forget about the waves that occur in the open ocean. Although they are much smaller compared to megatsunamis, their size is still amazing.
The Highest Waves in Europe
In the summer, the Portuguese town of Nazaré welcomes tourists with sunny weather, soft beaches and delicious seafood. But with the onset of autumn, everything changes: the coast turns into an arena for the bravest surfers, ready to battle giant waves.
From October to February, on the beach with the beautiful name Praia Do Norte, you can see the highest waves in Europe – their height reaches 30 meters! The main secret of these giants lies in the unique structure of the seabed. Not far from Nazaré there is an underwater canyon, the length of which is 227 kilometers, and the depth reaches 5 kilometers. Approaching the shore, the canyon becomes a kind of springboard, on which the waves literally soar upward, increasing their height many times over.
Giant wave in Portugal. Image source: wikipedia.org
It was here in 2017 that Brazilian Rodrigo Cocha set a world record by surfing a 24.3-metre wave. This amazing feat was a true test of his courage and skills.
Hawaii's Tallest Wave
On the North Coast of Maui, located in Hawaii, there is a unique place known among surfers as Jaws. This is one of the most exciting and dangerous places to ride giant waves, the height of which sometimes reaches 18 meters or more.
This place got its name for a reason: the waves here can be as unpredictable and dangerous as bloodthirsty sharks. As in the case of other famous waves, giant waves in Jaws are formed due to a special underwater relief, which serves as a springboard for powerful ocean currents.
Giant Wave in Hawaii. Image source: wikimedia.org
From December to March, when storms in the Pacific Ocean reach their peak, Jaws becomes a real magnet for professional surfers from all over the world. It was here that the tow-in surfing method was developed, in which surfers on jet skis accelerate each other to catch and ride huge, fast waves that are impossible to handle with conventional means.
Read also:In which seas and at which resorts of the world are sharks found that kill tourists
Giant waves in Tasmania
On the south-eastern coast of Tasmania, on the uninhabited island of Tasmanis one of the wildest and most dangerous places for surfing – Shipstern Bluff. The waves that form there, up to 22 meters high, attract daredevils from all over the world not only with their enormous power, but also with their unique structure. The waves in this place form so-called “steps” – underwater formations that break the wave into several levels and make it incredibly difficult to ride.
The waves at Shipstern Bluff consist of several stages. Image source: pinterest.com
The path to this place is not easy: you can only get there by boat or jet ski, having covered 30 kilometers from the shore. But this is not the biggest danger. Great white sharks are often found in these waters, which makes riding here an even more extreme activity.
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As you already understood, sometimes unimaginably high waves form on Earth and sometimes they cause real tragedies. If you're interested in learning how a 20-metre tsunami wiped out the population of Britain 8,000 years ago, be sure to read our article on the subject!