Historic Tsunami

1969 Russia Tsunami

22 November 1969 · Kamchatka · Russia

On 22 November 1969 at 23:09 UTC, a tsunami formed near Kamchatka, Russia. It was caused by a magnitude 7.7 earthquake. Waves reached up to 15.0 m high. It was observed at 17 locations in 3 countries or territories, up to 8,320 km from its source.

Date

22 November 1969

Time

23:09 UTC

Cause

Earthquake

Earthquake Magnitude

7.7

Highest Wave

15.0 m

Observation Sites

17

Furthest Reach

8,320 km

Source Country

Russia

Triggering Earthquake

M 7.3, 1969

Countries and Territories Reached

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

• 5Russia · 15.0 m
• 11United States of America · 1.1 m
• 1Canada · 0.1 m

Highest Waves

• 15.0 mOl'Khovaya River · Russia · 24 km
• 7.0 mKaraginskiy Bay · Russia · 130 km
• 2.5 mNikolskoe, Bering I, Commander I · Russia · 315 km
• 1.1 mAttu, Massacre Bay, Ak · United States of America · 815 km
• 0.9 mShemya Island, Ak · United States of America · 866 km
• 0.3 mAdak, Sweeper Cove, Ak · United States of America · 1,421 km
• 0.2 mWake Island · United States of America · 4,271 km
• 0.2 mUst'Kamchatsk, Kamchatka · Russia · 164 km
• 0.1 mUnalaska, Dutch Harbor, Ak · United States of America · 1,904 km
• 0.1 mHilo, Hawaii, Hi · United States of America · 5,390 km

Other Major Tsunamis in the Region

• 1997Kamchatka, Russia · 8.0 m
• 1997Kamchatka, Russia · 8.0 m
• 1996Karymskoye, Kamchatka, Russia · 30.0 m
• 1927Kamchatka, Russia · 2.0 m
• 1923Kamchatka, Russia · 20.0 m18 deaths
• 1923Kamchatka, Russia · 8.0 m3 deaths

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