"Obi-iwa" - the largest tsunami boulder

3D Model

This huge rock, having a 20-m diameter, a 12-m height, and a 1700 cubic meters volume – 2.5 million kilograms, is located on the western coast of Shimoji Island in the Miyako Islands, southwestern Japan. Apparently, this is one of the largest tsunami boulders ever found in the world. It is supposed to be detached from the bedrock coast of Porites coral by the Meiwa Tsunami in 1771 with tens of meters of the runup height. Although there had been many boulders along this coast, most of them were destructed when the airport behind was constructed. Only this largest boulder remains to remind us the severity of the tsunami. https://imaggeo.egu.eu/view/5316/

17.16.1128 p3/gr ii