On December 2, 1611 CE, a destructive tsunami struck the Sanriku region of Japan, leaving a severe impact documented in historical tsunami records. According to the NOAA/NCEI Global Historical Tsunami Database, the event generated a maximum water height of 25.0 meters and was associated with an earthquake measuring magnitude 8.1.
Event Characteristics and Measurements
The historical record details several core physical parameters associated with the Sanriku event:
- Event Date: December 2, 1611 CE
- Location: Sanriku, Japan (Latitude 39.0, Longitude 144.5)
- Associated Earthquake Magnitude: 8.1
- Maximum Water Height: 25.0 meters
- Database Validity: 4 (reflecting definite tsunami occurrence)
The recorded 25.0-meter figure represents the maximum water height observed during the event rather than a uniform height across the entire coastline.
Human Impact
The tsunami caused significant loss of life in the affected region. Historical data compiled within the database attribute a total of 5,000 deaths to this event.
Sources and further context
Official datasets support the event-specific facts.