On the night of July 9, 1958, an earthquake measuring 8.5 on
the Ritcher Scale sent about 11 tons of rock falling
from above the northeastern shore of Lituya Bay.
The rocks fell nearly 3000 feet into the waters of Gilbert Inlet,
where the impact caused a tsunami that crashed against
the southwest shore of the Gilbert Inlet. The wave hit with such power
that it swept completely over the barrier of land
separating Gilbert Inlet fromof Lituya Bay. The wave then
contiuned down the entire length of Lituya Bay, over La Chaussee Spit and into
the Gulf of Alaska. The wave swept away all trees and vegetation from
1720 feet and lower. Millions of trees
were uprooted and swept away.
the Ritcher Scale sent about 11 tons of rock falling
from above the northeastern shore of Lituya Bay.
The rocks fell nearly 3000 feet into the waters of Gilbert Inlet,
where the impact caused a tsunami that crashed against
the southwest shore of the Gilbert Inlet. The wave hit with such power
that it swept completely over the barrier of land
separating Gilbert Inlet fromof Lituya Bay. The wave then
contiuned down the entire length of Lituya Bay, over La Chaussee Spit and into
the Gulf of Alaska. The wave swept away all trees and vegetation from
1720 feet and lower. Millions of trees
were uprooted and swept away.