Historic Tsunami

1965 United States of America Tsunami

4 February 1965 · Rat Islands, Aleutian Islands, Ak · United States of America

On 4 February 1965 at 05:01 UTC, a tsunami formed near Rat Islands, Aleutian Islands, Ak, United States of America. It was caused by a magnitude 8.7 earthquake. Waves reached up to 10.7 m high. It was observed at 84 locations in 8 countries or territories, up to 12,029 km from its source.

Date

4 February 1965

Time

05:01 UTC

Cause

Earthquake

Earthquake Magnitude

8.7

Highest Wave

10.7 m

Observation Sites

84

Furthest Reach

12,029 km

Estimated Damage

0 million US dollars

Source Country

United States of America

Triggering Earthquake

1965 Rat Islands Earthquake

Countries and Territories Reached

Number of observations, highest wave and deaths in each country.

• 20United States of America · 10.7 m
• 53Japan · 0.6 m
• 4Mexico · 0.5 m
• 2Russia · 0.3 m
• 1Ecuador · 0.2 m
• 2Peru · 0.2 m
• 1Canada · 0.2 m
• 1Marshall Islands, Rep. Of · 0.1 m

Highest Waves

• 10.7 mShemya Island, Ak · United States of America · 357 km
• 2.0 mAmchitka, Ak · United States of America · 43 km
• 1.6 mAttu, Massacre Bay, Ak · United States of America · 417 km
• 1.1 mN Kauai, Hi · United States of America · 3,733 km
• 0.6 mSanta Cruz, Ca · United States of America · 4,856 km
• 0.6 mKushimoto · Japan · 3,973 km
• 0.5 mAyukawa · Japan · 3,232 km
• 0.5 mHachinohe · Japan · 3,081 km
• 0.5 mAdak, Sweeper Cove, Ak · United States of America · 330 km
• 0.5 mSalina Cruz · Mexico · 8,353 km

Other Major Tsunamis in the Region

• 1957Andreanof Islands, Ak, United States of America · 32.0 m2 deaths

Sources: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Global Historical Tsunami Database (doi:10.7289/V5PN93H7) · Natural Earth