What is the biggest and most horrifying tsunami in modern history?

Tsunami is one of the most devastating natural disasters causing heavy damage to humans. We have seen many heartbreaking scenes caused by the tsunami disaster when attacking the coast of Japan and the Indian Ocean.

But why is there such a big tsunami? What is the most horrifying tsunami in modern human history?

Why is there a tsunami?

Tsunamis are sudden sea level rise caused by earthquakes, volcanoes and big storms. When these phenomena occur outside the ocean, then the waves are created only about 1m high, but when cornered, it can create water columns as high as skyscrapers.

The video below will help you better understand the tsunami formation and activity.

Terrifying tsunami battles in history

The higher the tsunami, the stronger the destructive power, causing more severe damage.

In 2004, a tsunami of up to 30 meters hit the Indian Ocean coast after the 9.1-magnitude earthquake. According to scientists, this catastrophe is stronger than all bombs in World War II combined, including nuclear bombs. This is called one of the most horrifying tsunamis in modern history.

In 2011, the coast of Japan suffered a tsunami of the same size but had a higher water column up to 40.5m, close to the Statue of Liberty in the United States.

High tsunami near the Statue of Liberty in America.

In 1963, a landslide hit the artificial lake of the Vajont dam in Italy causing a water column up to 250m high. This is like pouring 260 million cubic meters of land into a lake within a minute at a speed of 110km / h, causing all the water inside the lake to grow terribly fast, spilling out of the edge of the dam and downwards.

But that is not yet the most horrifying tsunami, in 1958 an earthquake in Lituya Bay, Alaska, USA created record highs of 525m. This is recognized as the biggest tsunami in the modern era. Thankfully this is not a residential area, so it does not cause serious damage to people and property.

So, what about the history series millions of years ago? According to scientists, a volcanic landslide on the island of Molokai of the Hawaiian Islands 1.5 million years ago caused a tsunami up to 600m high, equivalent to the height of 4 great pyramids Giza folded and submerged the entire island.