Historical tsunamis · Oct 16, 1737, 4:00 PM UTC
1737 Kamchatka tsunami
Russia
The tsunami of Oct 16, 1737, 4:00 PM UTC originated near Kamchatka (Russia).
Key facts
- Date
- Oct 16, 1737, 4:00 PM UTC
- Cause
- Earthquake
- Maximum documented water height
- 15.2 m
- Deaths
- 100
- Houses destroyed
- many (about 101–1,000)
- Damage
- limited (under US$ 1 million)
- Observation records
- 7
- Countries affected
- 2
Cause according to NOAA/NCEI: Earthquake.
The highest documented water height was 15.2 m (Amchitka, Ak, United States).
7 observation sites in 2 countries are recorded.
The database records 100 deaths.
Houses destroyed: many (about 101–1,000).
Damage is estimated at limited (under US$ 1 million).
Map of observation sites
7Each dot is a documented observation site; colour and size show the observed water height. The triangle marks the source.
Observations by country
| Country | Observation records | Maximum documented water height | Deaths | Earliest arrival |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 United States | 2 | 15.2 m Amchitka, Ak | — | — |
| Russia | 5 | 9.00 m Bering Island, Commander Islands | 3 | — |
Highest documented water heights
7 / 7Individual documented observations for this event. Heights come from different measurement types and sources; not every location has a measured height.
| Location / station | Observed height | Distance from source | Country |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amchitka, Ak · Ak | 15.24 m | 1,483 km | United States |
| Norton Sound, Ak · Ak | 12.19 m | 2,587 km | United States |
| Bering Island, Commander Islands · Kamchatka | 9.00 m | 700 km | Russia |
| Avacha, Kamchatka · Kamchatka | 4.50 m | 211 km | Russia |
| Lopatka, Kamchatka · Kamchatka | 4.50 m | 97 km | Russia |
| Shumshu Island, Kurilskiye · Kuril Islands | 3.00 m | 124 km | Russia |
| Bolshaia River · Kamchatka | — | 191 km | Russia |
More tsunamis
Source: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), Global Historical Tsunami Database. Confirmed events only. Deaths and damage are database estimates; older records are incomplete. Water heights come from different types of observation.