Prehistoric tsunamis


Prehistoric tsunamis are tsunamis and so-called "megatsunamis" that occurred before recorded history. The events have been identified through oral tradition and/or geological evidence. Those events that have been identified through contemporary records are listed as historic tsunamis.

List

Approx. dateLocationCauseEvidence for tsunami
66 million years BPChicxulub crater, Yucatanasteroid strikepresumed
35.5 million years BPChesapeake Baybolide impactpresumed
10,000 yrs BPSeton Portage, British Columbialandslide into lakepresumed
8,000 years BPMount Etna, Sicilyvolcanic landslidesubmarine sediments off Etna, submerged settlements off eastern Mediterranean coast, e.g. Atlit Yam
8,000 years BPNorwegian Seasubmarine landslip deposited sediments in Scotland
5,500 BPNorthern Islestsunami deposits and contemporaneous mass burials
4,000 BPRéunion islandlandslidepresumed