1958 Tsunami in an Alaskan bay - caused by a very large rockfall from a 
great height. These evidently occur regularly - perhaps several per decade.

Highest water damage point was 1720 feet above water surface (!!!).

Survivors' tales (2 boats) make interesting reading. Nobody could be happier 
about a snapped anchor chain than Howard Ulrich.



----- Original Message ----- 
From: Matthew McMahon
To: Russell McMahon
Sent: Thursday, July 17, 2008 2:36 PM
Subject: World's Biggest Tsunami | 1720 feet-tall - Lituya Bay, Alaska


http://geology.com/records/biggest-tsunami.shtml



_______________

Ulrich continued to watch the progress of the wave until it reached his boat 
about 2 1/2 to 3 minutes after it was first sighted. Being unable to get the 
anchor loose, he let out all of the chain (about 40 fathoms) and started the 
engine. Midway between the head of the bay and Cenotaph Island the wave 
appeared to be a straight wall of water possibly 100 feet high, extending 
from shore to shore. The wave was breaking as it came around the north side 
of the island, but on the south side it had a smooth, even crest. As it 
approached the Edrie the wave front appeared very steep, and 50 to 75 feet 
high. No lowering or other disturbance of the water around the boat, other 
than vibration due to the earthquake, was noticed before the wave arrived. 
The anchor chain snapped as the boat rose with the wave. The boat was 
carried toward and probably over the south shore, and then, in the backwash, 
toward the center of the bay. The wave crest seemed to be only 25 to 50 feet 
wide, and the back slope less steep than the front.
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