Tsunamis are unlike any other phenomenon on earth. They can be born in any body of water, such as a lake, an ocean, or a bay. They can develop quickly or take days to build. They can travel across an open ocean as fast as a commercial jet airplane can fly across it. They can strike with little or no warning, and can carry people, houses, and even ships several miles inland from the coast. Tsunamis have been around since before the dawn of humankind,and although human history has been recording them for over two thousand years, only now are scientists beginning to understand how tsunamis are formed, how they behave, and how we can prepare for them before they strike.

The Ancient "Harbor Waves" of Japan

Tsunamis have been documented striking the islands of Japan more often than anywhere else...