Chapter 1: The Catastrophic Event

On the night of July 9, 1958, Lituya Bay in Alaska witnessed an extraordinary natural phenomenon—the largest wave ever documented. This towering wave reached an incredible height of 1,720 feet, dwarfing the Empire State Building, which stands at 1,250 feet.

A massive earthquake, measuring 7.9 on the Richter scale, triggered this wave. It occurred along the Fairweather Fault, located to the west of Juneau in the Alaska Panhandle. The earthquake caused a massive landslide, with approximately 30.6 million cubic meters (about 1.08 billion cubic feet) of rock, equivalent to nearly 2.85 million dump truck loads, crashing into the bay from a height of 3,000 feet.

The resulting tsunami surged through Lituya Bay, even crossing over land that separated Gilbert Inlet from the bay. As it finally flowed into the Gulf of Alaska over the La Chaussee Spit, the land was stripped clean up to a height of 1,720 feet, and millions of trees were swept into the gulf.

Notably, the town of Yakutat, the closest settlement during the earthquake, experienced only moderate damage despite the quake's intensity. Juneau, the state capital, also reported some destruction.

Tragically, three lives were lost on Khantaak Island, situated about 105 miles north of Lituya Bay, when part of the island collapsed into the ocean. Additionally, two fishermen were swept away in their boat while anchored near the bay's entrance. Survivors recounted that, by the time the tsunami reached the mouth of the bay, it had already grown to a height of 100 feet.

Chapter 2: Historical Context of Tsunamis

This catastrophic event was not unprecedented; Lituya Bay had experienced significant tsunamis before. Historical records indicate that large waves struck the area in 1853, 1874, 1899, and 1936. However, the landslide in 1958 obliterated any remnants of these previous waves.

This video showcases the biggest waves ever documented on camera, illustrating the power of nature and the awe-inspiring force of tsunamis.

In this video, watch as Sebastian Steudtner sets the Guinness World Record for the largest wave ever surfed, measuring an astounding 86 feet (26.21 meters).

Sources: Geology.com, NOAA, USC, UWGB

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