The Tafjord tsunami

On the night of April 7th, 1934, huge masses of rock broke loose from the mountain Langhamaren and crashed into the fjord by Tafjord, the village lying at the innermost end of the fjord we are following now. The impact triggered a massive tsunami, reaching as high as 62 meters, it struck Tafjord and Fjørå with tremendous force. Forty people lost their lives, and many homes were swept into the sea in a matter of seconds. The disaster shocked all of Norway, but it also led to important new knowledge about mountain slides and fjord waves, as well as improved preparedness. Today, Tafjord stands as a symbol of resilience and recovery — a village that rebuilt itself and now lives closely with the forces of nature through both hydropower and research.