EnchantedLearning.com Tsunami

Major Tsunamis

Tsunamis occur in oceans, seas, and large bodies of water; ninety percent of tsunamis occur in the Pacific Ocean. Some of the world's largest tsunamis include:

• 65 million years ago Chicxulub crater at the tip of Mexico's Yucatán Peninsula -- Caused by a meteoroid impact. This impact and tsunami may have triggered the K-T mass extinction (which wiped out the terrestrial dinosaurs and many other organisms).
• 1490 B.C. Greece (Aegean Sea) -- Tsunami caused by the eruption/collapse of the volcano of Santorini. This tsunami may have caused the end of the Minoan civilization in Greece.
• January 26, 1700 - Japan (Pacific Ocean) -- Tsunami caused by an earthquake of magnitude 9.0 off the western coast of Vancouver Island, Canada.
• August 26, 1883 Indonesia -- Tsunami caused by the eruption/collapse of the volcano Krakatoa. Almost 40,000 people died.
• June 15, 1896 Honshu, Japan -- 28,000 people killed.
• November 18, 1929 Grand Banks, Canada (Atlantic Ocean) -- Tsunami caused by an offshore earthquake of magnitude 7.2. 27 people died.
• April 1, 1946 Aleutian Islands, Alaska (Pacific Ocean) -- Tsunami caused by an earthquake of magnitude 7.8 in the Aleutian Islands of Alaska. Over 170 people died.
• November 4, 1952 Kamchatka Peninsula, Russia (Pacific Ocean) -- Tsunami caused by an earthquake of magnitude 8.2 off the coast of the Kamchatka Peninsula (Russia). No lives lost.
• March 9, 1957 Aleutian Islands, Alaska (Pacific Ocean) -- Tsunami caused by an earthquake of magnitude 8.3 that occurred south of the Andreanof Islands (in the Aleutian Islands of Alaska). No lives lost.
• July 9, 1958 Lituya Bay, Alaska -- Tsunami caused by a landslide. Initial wave up to 520 meters ( 1,720 feet) high traveling at 160 kph (100 mph).
• May 22, 1960 Chile (Pacific Ocean) -- Tsunami caused by an earthquake of magnitude 8.3 that occurred off the coast of South Central Chile. Up to 2,290 people died (due to the Earthquake and tsunami).
• March 28, 1964 Prince Williams Sound, Alaska (Pacific Ocean) -- Tsunami caused by an an earthquake of magnitude 8.4 in Prince William Sound (Alaska). 122 people died.
• November 29, 1975 Hawaii (Pacific Ocean) -- Tsunami caused by an earthquake of magnitude 7.2 (and subsequent rock slide). 2 people died.
• Ssptember 1, 17, 1992 Nicaragua (Pacific Ocean) -- Tsunami caused by an offshore earthquake of magnitude 7.0. About 200 people killed.
• July 17, 1998 Papua-New Guinea -- Tsunami caused by an underwater landslide that was triggered by an earthquake. Thousands of people killed.
• June 23, 2001 Southern Peru (Pacific Ocean) -- Tsunami caused by an earthquake.
• December 26, 2004 Indonesia, W Thailand, Sri Lanka, SE India (Indian Ocean) -- Tsunami caused by an earthquake of magnitude 9.0 in the southern Indian Ocean. About 150,000 people died in the tsunamis.

EnchantedLearning.com ALL ABOUT OCEANS AND SEAS

Introduction	Why is the Ocean Salty?	What Causes Waves?	Tsunami	The Water Cycle	Ocean Animal Printouts			Ocean Crafts
	Why is the Ocean Blue?	What Causes Tides?	Hurricane	Undersea Explorers	Coral Reefs	Intertidal Zone	Sunlit (Euphotic) Zone	Ocean Printouts

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