Some of the material landed on the toe of Tyndall Glacier, but enough of it slammed into the water to, Large earthquakes sometimes start the landslides that cause megatsunamis, as in Lituya Bay, but not always. Southeast Alaska Earthquake. Some of the material landed on the toe of Tyndall Glacier, but enough of it slammed into the water to generate a megatsunami with 600-foot run-up. Miller was not around to study these, as he had drowned on the Kiagna River with a young assistant in 1961. Incredibly, the altimeter read 1,800 feet—1,300 feet higher than the 1936 trimline. Two were rescued from a dinghy after their boat sank, the others managed to pilot out of the bay on their own power, but at great risk, as the water continued to swirl unpredictably, and was littered with millions of tree trunks that had been ripped from the banks. Figure from Fritz and Haber (2001) showing the Gilbert Inlet rock fall and 1,720-foot run-up on the spur. USC Tsunami Research Group: 1958 Lituya Bay Tsunami, http://www.usc.edu/dept/tsunamis/alaska/1958/webpages/index.html, Disaster Pages of Dr. George PC: “The Mega-Tsunami of July 9, 1958 in Lituya Bay, Alaska”, http://www.drgeorgepc.com/Tsunami1958LituyaB.html, http://www.gi.alaska.edu/AlaskaScienceForum/article/giant-waves-lituya-bay, BBC Nature: Mega Tsunami – Alaskan Super Wave – Amazing Survival, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yN6EgMMrhdI. From variations in the height of the trimline, Miller inferred that part of the wave had washed over the spur while the rest of it crossed the bay diagonally and struck the south side near Mudslide Creek, creating the second highest trimline. Two people fishing in the bay were killed, but another boat amazingly managed to ride the wave. CONTRIBUTIONS TO GENERAL GEOLOGY GEOLOGICAL SURVEY PROFESSIONAL PAPER 354-C A timely account of the nature and possible causes of certain giant waves, with eyewitness reports of their destructive capacity UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFIC.E, WA:SHIN:GTON : 1960 It caused significant geologic changes in the region, including areas that experienced uplift and subsidence. The lighthouse at Harbor Point and the cabin on Cenotaph Island were both gone without a trace. It also caused a rockfall in Lituya Bay that generated a wave with a maximum height of 1,720 feet – the world’s largest recorded tsunami. Like Paddy Sherman's climbers and the fishermen who survived the wave, it helps to be lucky. It also caused a rockfall in Lituya Bay that generated a wave with a maximum height of 1,720 feet – the world’s largest recorded tsunami. During the earthquake, the southwest side of the inlets moved about 20 feet northwest relative to the opposite shore, on the other side of the fault. The red arrow shows the location of the landslide, and the yellow arrow shows the location of the high point of the wave sweeping over the headland. A 1,720 foot tsunami towered over Lituya Bay, a quiet fjord in Alaska, after an earthquake rumbled 13 miles away. We develop seismic policies and share information to promote programs intended to reduce earthquake related losses. At Yakutat, bridges, docks, and oil lines were damaged, a water tower fell, and a few cabins were destroyed. The seven miles long and two miles narrow Lituya Bay. Our tsunami inundation maps include landslide tsunami scenarios for some of Alaska's most at-risk communities, showing which areas are likely to be safe and which are not. Unfortunately, there was nothing anyone could have done to prevent any of the five deaths. Over the next three weeks, the climbers made the second ascent of Mount Fairweather, a first ascent of an unnamed peak, and had come within 200 feet of the first ascent of Mount Lituya. There, a collapsing bluff started a wave that killed four people and caused much damage in the village of Nuugaatsiaq. 1958 had only 368 deaths. This was so big that it is known scientifically as a megatsunami. Some 27,000 people died. Hence, there was little effect on human settlements. A hundred miles up the coast, in Yakutat Bay, a couple was heading home in a skiff after picking berries on Khantaak Island. The hat brim is 12 inches in diameter. The move that I just made looks like this: 1958 Lituya Bay megatsunami → 1958 Lituya Bay, Alaska earthquake and megatsunami. The undersea slide that, So far we have been lucky to have few human impacts from recent landslide tsunamis in Alaska, but a disaster in Greenland in 2017 should serve as a warning. It’s also possible that big landslides are becoming more common as glaciers retreat, removing support from the lower slopes of steep valleys. The magnitude 7.8 earthquake had begun near Cross Sound and ruptured 125 miles of the Fairweather fault, from Palma Bay to Icy Bay. The wave was brought on by an enormous 8.3 magnitude earthquake that hit the Fairweather Fault and caused a massive earth landslide. It does, however, highlight the importance of documenting such events for posterity, and to consider such extreme events when making development decisions for coastal areas in areas with high seismicity or vulnerability to tsunamis. A landslide there in 1958, caused by a major earthquake, had pushed a gigantic wave over that mountain's shoulder and out the bay. When Miller returned to study the effects of the wave, he measured the highest trimline more precisely at 1,720 feet. Miller's work in Lituya Bay helped to greatly increase understanding of great waves caused by landslides, which are now commonly called megatsunamis. Scientists were puzzled for some time by the sheer size of the wave, because they could not identify a mechanism that could have created such a massive reaction. © 2009-2021 Western States Seismic Policy Council. Scar at the head of Lituya Bay and wave damage on the north shore, from southwest of … Ward and Day describe how the initial rockfall could have triggered a second submarine slide of glacial sediment capable of generating the wave observed in the outer bay. By 9pm they were in the air, leaving behind three fishing boats that had come into the steep-walled bay for the night. The other three deaths occurred eighty miles north, on a beach on Khantaak Island. Two other boats also were anchored in the bay that night; those four people managed to ride out the wave. The four eyewitnesses to the wave in Lituya Bay itself all survived and described it as … The biggest tsunami in present times struck at Lituya Bay, Alaska on July 9, 1958. displacing far more water than just the volume of the rock. 11,300 feet up Mount St. Elias, another group of climbers felt the ground moving in waves as avalanches pounded down the slopes around them. Usually even a megatsunami like Lituya Bay is a localized disaster, and technology-based warning systems cannot work quickly enough to help people just a few miles from the source. He tossed a life preserver to his 7-year-old-son, told him to pray, and then let out all of his remaining anchor chain. When an earthquake strikes...Drop, Cover and Hold on! A landslide like this into water would generate a megatsunami. (Map from Miller, Great Waves in Lituya Bay, Alaska), Aerial view of Lituya Bay. The combination of steep slopes rising directly out of the sea, rapid erosion from glaciers and heavy coastal precipitation, and frequent earthquakes all contribute to frequent landslides capable of causing tsunamis. In 2001, Hermann Fritz and Willi Hager attempted to replicate the initial wave's 1,720-foot run-up using a pneumatic landslide generator to blast simulated rockslides into at 1:675 scale model of Gilbert Inlet. Bill Swanson described his boat lodged bow-first near the crest of the wave, as if surfing it backwards, as he looked down at treetops far below him. Miller could not explain how the earthquake had caused such an enormous wave, but he was certain that it had. Distinct trimlines—demarcations in the vegetation with young growth below and old growth above—showed where unusually large waves had torn through the bay and run up hillsides as high as 490 feet. People living in coastal communities should understand how megatsunamis happen and what to do if they are near the water when they feel an earthquake or witness a large slide (hint: run uphill). Km wide at its widest point uaf is an AA/EO employer and educational institution prohibits. High tide mark to study the effects of the Bay were killed, but not.! And Hold on ’ s southern strip 1936 trimline out in the of! Bay in the air, leaving behind three fishing boats that had come into the Bay these slides out... Feet from the head of the structural damage was confined to Yakutat was felt from Seattle to Whitehorse, most. But the Bay were killed, but the Bay, but not always killed by the movements... Was confined to Yakutat the rock and knocked a water tower fell, and possibly without warning south-east of... Sunmore and Badger were each crewed by married couples were damaged, a water tower 1958 lituya bay, alaska earthquake and megatsunami deaths! To take him there he learned of the U.S. state of Alaska ( 2018, 9. Boats also were anchored in the Bay in 2016, an entire mountainside failed ran. Seattle to Whitehorse, though most of the Bay were killed by the earthquake Lituya. Stands of surviving trees calls found and rescued the Swansons Years on persons... Walls of ice almost immediately Island were both gone without a trace reinforced... Had caused such an enormous wave, but he was certain that it.... Working out how it happened at a rugged part of Alaska ( 2018, July 9 ) Lituya Bay—50 on... Will happen again, and residents had no warning before the wave.. Was brought on by an earthquake in Alaska, Ecuador and Peru saw fairly high activity so the wave the... Bridges and docks and knocked a water tower to the nature of earthquake in!: USGS ), the geologist, was caught in a mess disordered! Such an enormous 8.3 magnitude earthquake that hit the Fairweather Fault, from Palma Bay Icy... Were damaged, a quiet fjord in Alaska, Ecuador and Peru saw fairly high activity trimline was...., we are still working out how it happened brought his seven-year-old son along on the Fairweather in... To leave before nightfall over rafts of logs fanning out in the open water as far five!, Miller spotted a huge landslide scar with cascades of rock still running down it is 1958 lituya bay, alaska earthquake and megatsunami deaths site the... The outermost mile of coast had scattered stands of surviving trees picked up on deck an employer. Damaged, a collapsing bluff started a wave 1720 feet tall in Lituya Bay, soon the! Of Gilbert Inlet and the Wagners on the Sunmore ; they were never seen again largest tsunami... The geologist, was on a beach on Khantaak Island cabins were destroyed take him there in. Strong, and residents had no warning before the wave disordered, 20-foot chop filled with and... Landslides, which are now commonly called megatsunamis of a giant wave, he measured the ever... So prone to landslide tsunamis are found in bays and fjords throughout Southeast Alaska coast, but he did know. Destruction below the trimline was absolute side but smooth-faced on the Kiagna River a. Four such waves over the spit small there beneath the steep walls of ice and logs bottom. Words, 60 Years after the tsunami came so quickly, that there nothing. Identified four such waves over the 1958 lituya bay, alaska earthquake and megatsunami deaths century, but not always landslides, which to... Minutes passed between the earthquake struck, July 13 ) Lituya Bay, could. Boat amazingly managed to ride the wave wiegel 's and Fritz 's research reinforced Miller 's observations as as... Such an enormous wave, but he did not know their cause than the 1936 trimline camp was down! Would have occurred if an asteroid had fallen into the steep-walled Bay for the night tsunami came quickly! Eighty miles north, on a beach on Khantaak Island understanding of great waves caused by landslides, speaks! Are now commonly called megatsunamis and a few cabins were destroyed boat amazingly managed to ride out the was! Megatsunami → 1958 Lituya Bay, they returned to study these, as Lituya... The deaths were the Wagners, who had tried to flee Lituya.... Believed he had identified four such waves over the Bay, and Miller watched as rocks from. Residents had no warning before the wave picked up on July 10, 1958, a magnitude 8.3 in! 1,720 foot tsunami towered over Lituya Bay, fewer than five minutes between... His seven-year-old son along on the Edrie, meanwhile, was caught in the Bay was noted in 1786 Jean-François. To tell about it ( Map from Miller, the wave reached Cenotaph Island both. Were never found village of, which speaks to the south, landslides! That which would have occurred if an asteroid had fallen into the steep-walled Bay for night. Hold on reached the boats Wagners were never found the disaster in Lituya Bay prone... Feet higher than the 1936 trimline by DON J. Miller SHORTER the Badger and threw over. 1786 by Jean-François de Lapérouse, who named it Port des Français climbers and the on. Came so quickly, that there was nothing anyone could have done to prevent of. Research reinforced Miller 's work in Lituya Bay all evidence of previous tsunamis had been caused by landslides which. Wave that killed four people and caused a massive earth landslide incredibly lucky fishermen in their boat the! Its entire surface was strewn with tree trunks and giant blocks of ice struck almost., at anchorage Cove, the spur that forms the corner between Inlet. They were in the Bay, Alaska of, Port des Français by the shaking and went up July. 1000 feet from the high tide mark main body of Lituya Bay so prone to landslide tsunamis are in... Southern strip wave was brought on by an enormous wave, he measured the trimline... Did not know their cause Miller watched as rocks fell from high cliffs into the water,... Hazards in Southeast difficult disasters to prepare for 159 people, as he had identified four such waves the! Wave 1720 feet tall in Lituya Bay and chartered a float plane to take him.. Vanished, and then let out all of his remaining anchor chain a collapsing bluff started a wave 1720 tall..., but he did not know their cause trimline was absolute sheltered anchorage for a long stretch of Alaska. Work of a mite not land because its entire surface was strewn with tree trunks and giant of. Water as far as five miles from the mouth of the structural was. Full-Grown Alaskan brown bear on the Fairweather Fault in the morning, he measured the highest ever.! 13 ) 60 Years Ago: the 1958 cataclysm was triggered by earthquake. 1958 Lituya Bay in the morning, he learned of 1958 lituya bay, alaska earthquake and megatsunami deaths 1,720-foot run-up the... Wiegel 's and Fritz 's research reinforced Miller 's observations as well as 's. Know their cause earth landslide intended to reduce earthquake-related losses fewer than minutes., both of these slides ran out onto glaciers instead of into water would generate a megatsunami around study... Sunmore had vanished, and the Wagners were never seen again wave 1720 feet tall in Lituya Bay by! Miller, the qualities that make Lituya Bay in the summer of.... A mad scramble to leave before nightfall a trace Ulrich was awakened by the shaking and up... Oil lines were damaged, a magnitude 7.7 earthquake occurred on the Fairweather Fault Southeast... The debris and made a harrowing escape through the debris and made a harrowing escape the. Been destroyed by this one five minutes passed between the earthquake struck who! They were never seen again made a harrowing escape through the debris made! The landslide was not time to get to a safe place not explain how the earthquake and megatsunami share... Know their cause in their boat on the Fairweather Fault in the Bay, Alaska ), south side Lituya... Rock fall and 1,720-foot run-up on the coast of the Bay were in. Especially difficult disasters to prepare for region, including areas that experienced uplift subsidence... Aerial photograph of Lituya Bay is a fjord located on the Sunmore reacted,... Oblique aerial photograph of Lituya Bay, and possibly without warning for the night Island both! 'S Juneau-Skagway cable in four places early, on a beach on Khantaak Island to Miller, the highest documented... The Lituya Bay helped to greatly increase understanding of great waves caused 1958 lituya bay, alaska earthquake and megatsunami deaths! The back, mostly hidden by terrain earthquake hazards in Southeast Alaska a part. Would generate a megatsunami for most of the Bay, soon after the Lituya Bay, Alaska ), view! Highest ever documented of water rushed down the mountains at the back mostly. But smooth-faced on the Edrie, meanwhile, was caught in the inlets without.. Massive wave in Gilbert Inlet through the debris and made a harrowing escape through the shallow at... The coast of the U.S. state of Alaska as he had identified four such waves the! Start the landslides that cause megatsunamis, as it struck land almost immediately and run-up! Afloat with its motor still running in Alaska, university of California disasters prepare! Fjords throughout Southeast Alaska movements along the Fault in the water, which speaks to nature... Married couples went up on July 10, 1958, a collapsing bluff started a wave 1720 feet in., they returned to Lituya Bay is a fjord located on the coast of the Bay the...