Key Points Summary — Mega Tsunami

• Mega tsunamis can reach over 1,700 feet high
• Triggered by landslides, volcanic collapses, or asteroid impacts
• US risk zones include Alaska, Hawaii, and the West Coast
• Cumbre Vieja volcano collapse could send wave to US East Coast
• Alaska’s Lituya Bay saw a 1,719-foot wave in 1958
• Hawaii’s islands reshaped by historic 1,000-foot waves
• Cascadia fault may cause another Pacific-wide disaster soon

Threat From the Deep

Imagine a wave taller than the Empire State Building racing toward you at jet speed. That’s the terrifying power of a mega tsunami.

Unlike regular tsunamis caused by earthquakes, mega tsunamis are triggered by enormous landslides or collapsing volcanoes.

Three regions in the US—Alaska, Hawaii, and the West Coast—are under constant threat. Unstable geology and climate shifts make the danger even more real.

Canary Island Volcano Could Doom East Coast

One scenario haunts scientists: the collapse of the Cumbre Vieja volcano in the Canary Islands.

A 2001 study warned that if the volcano’s west flank slides into the Atlantic, it could unleash a wave 2,000 feet high.

That wall of water could travel across the Atlantic, reaching the US East Coast with waves up to 150 feet.

The Netflix series “La Palma” dramatizes this possibility, as scientists race against time to warn of the eruption.

Alaska’s History of Destruction

Back in 1958, Alaska’s Lituya Bay witnessed the most powerful wave ever recorded.

A landslide caused by an earthquake sent 90 million tons of rock into Gilbert Inlet.

That triggered a 1,719-foot mega tsunami that wiped out forests and flung boats over treetops.

Eyewitnesses reported thunderous noise, violent water walls, and entire landscapes stripped bare.

Today, retreating glaciers are increasing Alaska’s landslide risks. A glacier-triggered slide in Harriman Fiord could cause another disaster.

Scientists now monitor glacial melt and shifting cliffs to predict and prevent future events.

Hawaii’s Volcanic Time Bombs

Hawaii is another hotspot for mega tsunami risk.

Around 105,000 years ago, a 1,000-foot wave struck Lanai, hurling marine fossils high into the mountains.

The cause? A collapsing volcano.

These islands grow fast from lava flows, but their steep slopes often collapse. That collapse can dump millions of tons of rock into the sea.

Such an event could send waves crashing onto nearby islands with little warning.

Kilauea and Mauna Loa remain active. Kilauea’s last eruption ended just weeks ago. Another landslide could happen any time.

West Coast Quakes Could Unleash Hell

The West Coast faces a different threat: subduction zone quakes.

In 1700, a massive quake along the Cascadia Subduction Zone created a tsunami that obliterated coastal Native American villages.

The wave even crossed the Pacific and hit Japan.

The US Geological Survey estimates a 37% chance of another magnitude 8 to 9 quake in Cascadia within 50 years.

Such a quake could sink coastal towns and trigger massive tsunamis, similar to Japan’s 2011 disaster.

Communities like Tillamook and Astoria would be devastated.

Warning Signs And Evacuation Efforts

Federal agencies are now building better early warning systems.

Geologists constantly watch volcanic slopes, measure glacial shifts, and map earthquake risks.

But with unpredictable timing and increasing pressure from climate change, the danger remains.

Public education, coastal planning, and real-time monitoring are the best defenses.

America’s Silent Killers

Mega tsunamis are rare—but when they strike, they leave apocalyptic devastation.

Whether it’s a volcanic collapse in Hawaii, a glacier landslide in Alaska, or a subduction quake off Oregon, the threat is real and rising.

Millions of Americans live in the shadow of these sleeping giants.

Scientists warn: it’s not a question of if—but when.