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The rockslide
occurred along the eastern wall of the Gilbert Inlet (see figure
above). The mass of rock striking the surface of the bay created
a giant splash, which sent water surging to a height of 1720
feet (see figure above) across the point opposite the inlet.
This initial sheet of water stripped all vegetation from the
point, leaving a bare rock face, which shows up nicely on the
map above, and in two of the photos below. The in addition to
this initial splash, the rock slide also sent a giant local tsunami
sweeping across the bay. Eyewitness accounts from the few unfortunate
boaters who happened to be anchored in the bay for night, state
that the wave was at least 100 feet tall at its maximum height
near the head of the bay. Two of these boaters were killed by
the wave while making a run for open water, the rest, amazingly,
survived. The tsunami inundated approximately 5 square miles
of land along the shores of Lityua Bay, sending water as far
as 3,600 feet inland (see figure above), and clearing millions
of trees. The barren shoreline left by the tsunami shows up nicely
on the map above, and provides a good approximation of the inundation
area. The photos below, taken at Lituya Bay after the tsunami,
illustrate of magnitude of this event. |
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