Lituya Bay before 1958 tsunami. Aerial photograph of Lituya Bay, Alaska, USA, on 16 September 1954. This narrow bay is subject to tsunamis caused by landslides from the mountains in the background. This view shows evidence in the treelines for past tsunamis in 1936 and 1853-54. Four years later, another tsunami occurred in Lituya Bay on 9 July 1958. The tsunami reached a height of 524 metres, and was the largest ever recorded. It 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 after the 1958 tsunami, see C004/6598.