We live on sometimes violent and dynamic planet. Also, it is merely that we live on it for a relatively short period of geologic time, hence missing most of the action.

On Oct. 5, Monday, scientists drove the point home in a study that is published in Science Advances that suggests the occurrence of an astounding powerful megatsunami off the coast of Africa, in the Cape Verde Islands, about 73,000 years ago. Around that time, scientists believe that a large flank of volcanic island of Fogo collapsed into the ocean, which unleashed a giant wave of 800 feet in height - almost as high as the Eiffel Tower - that traveled 30 miles to Santiago island where it would have done extraordinary things, said Chicago Tribune.

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The very huge wave pushed around huge boulders and pebbles, The Huffington Post added. In theory, such an event could happen again some time. Any volcano that is steep, unstable, tall, and active is enough to be prone to a collapse that can ensue megatsunamis, Dr. Ricardo Ramalho said.

Dr. Ramalho is an adjunct scientist at Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, Columbia University in Palisades, New York. He is also the lead author of the research that is published by the above mentioned journal. He added that very low frequency with very high impact events are estimated to happen though the probability is very small but nevertheless will happen again.

As the theory goes, when the powerful wave hit that it will surge all the way over the top of more than 600 feet, as high as a cliff or the Eiffel Tower, can ultimately attain water levels of nearly 900 feet above sea level. Then it can also scour large boulders from below or maybe directly tear them from the rock itself and carry them to the top of the plateau, in which scientists would then later identify them.

The new study, however, originated with a simple mystery when Dr. Ramalho was on Santiago in 2007 and saw the large boulders on top of the high plateau with the ends in a steep cliff.

Tagsmegatsunami, Eiffel Tower, science advances, Cape Verde Islands, Santiago