Has Maine Ever Been Hit By a Tsunami?

On the evening of July 29th, multiple news outlets reported that a massive earthquake had been reported off the coast of Russia.

According to Fox News, the quake, one of the largest ever felt in the country, measured about 8.8 on the Richter scale.

Not surprising, considering the quake had happened in the ocean, there was an immediate concern that tsunamis would bring destruction to many nations on the Pacific Ocean.

Here in the United States, the biggest concerns were along the coastline of Alaska, California, and Hawaii.  While several large waves (5' to 7') did come ashore, they were not nearly tall enough to cause the destruction that was seen during other notable tsunamis.  The Malaysian tsunami of December 2004, for example.

We are glad that it was not as serious as it could have been, but this got us thinking - has a tsunami ever roared ashore in Maine?

What is a Tsunami?

According to the Maine.gov website, a tsunami is a giant wave caused when something major—like an earthquake, volcanic eruption, or even an underwater landslide—suddenly shifts a huge amount of water. It can even happen, though rarely, if a meteor smacks into the ocean. When that water gets displaced, it doesn’t just sit there. It races away from the source in fast, massive waves.

The word tsunami actually comes from Japan. It combines tsu (meaning harbor) and nami (meaning wave). Why that name? Because fishermen would head out to sea, totally unaware anything was wrong. Then they’d return to shore and find their harbor—and everything in it—completely wrecked. The wave had hit while they were out on calm waters.

Wild, right?

Has a Tsunami Ever Hit Maine?

While they are rare, there have been instances where a tsunami has hit Maine's coast.

The largest was a tsunami caused by a Newfoundland earthquake in 1929.  Registering 7.2 on the Richter scale, the quake was felt as far away as Boston and New York.  While many are certain that this did cause a tsunami to come ashore in Maine, there are no real records of damage caused by the waves.

Additionally, an 1872 event caused a series of smaller (about 50 centimeters) waves in Penobscot Bay.

An event in 1926 caused 10 foot waves to wash over Mount Desert Island.  These waves reportedly caused flooding in Bass Harbor, but did not cause any injuries.

Learn more about tsunamis in Maine HERE