In 1888, Ritter Island collapsed into the ocean, triggering a devastating mega tsunami. This video explores how volcanic landslides create tsunamis, the science behind extreme wave heights, and why this forgotten disaster may have produced waves over 100 metres tall. Learn how landslide-generated tsunamis differ from earthquake tsunamis, why the ocean receded before impact, and what this event reveals about future coastal hazards.
Eastern Australia has a hidden history of colossal mega tsunamis that reshaped the coast and left behind dramatic geological evidence. On Lord Howe Island, towering waves more than 100 meters high ripped vegetation away, hurled massive boulders inland, and capped headlands with layers of sand and shells from the ocean floor. These events were unlike any ordinary storm or cyclone, leaving behind scars carved into cliffs and stories that echo through Aboriginal oral traditions. This post explores the science, history, and mystery of the mega tsunamis that struck the Tasman Sea and eastern Australia.
