In the 1950s, it was discovered that tsunamis larger than had previously been believed possible can be caused by giant submarine landslides. These large volumes of rapidly displaced water transfer energy at a faster rate than the water can absorb. Their existence was confirmed in 1958, when a giant landslide in Lituya Bay, Alaska, caused the highest wave ever recorded, which had a height of . The wave did not travel far as it struck land almost immediately. The wave struck three boats—each with two people aboard—anchored in the bay. One boat rode out the wave, but the wave sank the other two, killing both people aboard one of them.
in the 1950s it was discovered that tsunamis larger than had previously been believed possible can be caused by giant submarine landslides these large volumes of rapidly displaced water transfer energy at a faster rate than the water can absorb their existence was confirmed in 1958 when a giant landslide in lituya bay alaska caused the highest wave ever recorded which had a height of  the wave did not travel far as it struck land almost immediately the wave struck three boats—each with two people aboard—anchored in the bay one boat rode out the wave but the wave sank the other two killing both people aboard one of them