Scientists have revealed the three most dangerous tsunami zones in the United States—and the threat is far more real, and far closer, than most people think. The Pacific Northwest, East Coast, and Gulf Coast all sit in the crosshairs of potentially catastrophic waves triggered by underwater earthquakes, landslides, and rising sea levels. Millions of people live in the path of these looming disasters. And while tsunamis may feel like rare, distant events, they’re more like ticking time bombs waiting to be set off.
Tsunamis aren’t your typical beach waves. They don’t roll in gently or offer surfers a thrill. They’re generated when a massive shift happens under the sea—earthquakes, landslides, even volcanic eruptions. These waves tear across oceans at up to 500 miles per hour. In the deep sea, they appear subtle. But once they approach shallower waters, they rise dramatically and strike with brutal force. One key fact to remember: tsunamis are not tidal waves—they don’t come from tides, and they’re anything but routine.
