Facts About Tsunami - strangefacts

• Tsunami is a Japanese word. "Tsu" translates to harbor and "nami" to wave. When a body of water is rapidly displaced, a series of waves are created

• In the 1940s, an earthquake measuring 7.8 on the Richter scale gave rise to a tsunami

• A "megatsunami" is caused by large landslides. The displaced water mass moves under the effect of gravity

• If an earthquake takes place near a body of water, it means that a tsunami will follow in a short time

• If the water along the shoreline recedes dramatically and exposes usually submerged areas it should be inferred that this is the trough of the tsunami and a crest will follow after a few seconds or minutes

• Some large animals like elephants hear the noise of the tsunami and move in the opposite direction towards inland

• Computer models can also foresee tsunami arrival and impact depending upon knowledge of the event that caused it and the shape of the oceanbed

• Where tsunami is happening there is a loud roar similar to a train or aircraft

• The maximum death toll due to tsunami has been 283,000 in 2004 in the Indian Ocean

• These waves are usually 10 meters high. The rapid displacement of the body of water takes place due to volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, underwater explosions, large meteorite impacts, mass movements above or under water,nuclear weapons testing in seas
  

• The second largest death toll has been 100,000 in 1755 in Portugal, Morocco and the United Kingdom

• The third largest death toll due to sunami is 70,000 in 1908 in Italy

• At the deepest point in the ocean, Tsunamis can have a speed of 600 mph. Close to the shore, this speed reduces to 30 to 40 mph

• If the waves range from 40 meters to more than 100 meters, they are called as a "megatsunami"

• When they reach land, they acquire more height due to the force of impact. They are also called as "iminami" or "wave of purification"

• If you feel an earthquake in the Pacific Coast area, turn on your battery-powered radio to learn if there is a tsunami warning. If you hear a tsunami warning, and they say to evacuate, do this immediately

• Hawai is the state at greatest risk for a tsunami. They get about one a year, with a damaging tsunami happening about every seven years

• Alaska is also at high risk. California, Oregon and Washington experience a damaging tsunami about every 18 years

• 1964, an Alaskan earthquake generated a tsunami with waves between 10 and 20 feet high along parts of the California, Oregon and Washington coasts

• In 1946, a tsunami with waves of 20 to 32 feet crashed into Hilo, Hawaii, flooding the downtown area WNZUJT6QJGP2