Lituya Bay after 1958 tsunami. Aerial photograph of Lituya Bay, Alaska, USA, in August 1958. This narrow bay is subject to tsunamis caused by landslides from the mountains in the background. This view shows the damage to the shoreline (lighter areas) caused by the tsunami of 9 July 1958. It reached a height of 524 metres, and was the largest ever recorded. The giant wave was caused by a landslide of 30 million cubic metres of mountainside, loosened by an earthquake. This image is part of a series taken by D.J. Miller of the United States Geological Survey, showing the area before and after the 1958 tsunami. For the area before the 1958 tsunami, see C004/6597.