Tsunamis in the Alps? A killer wave slammed medieval Geneva, a new study says... [500 A.D.]

National Geographic ^ | Wednesday, October 31, 2012 | Daniel Stone

[cripplecreek]

And they'll kill you in a hot second if you give them half a chance.





Just about every pier and breakwater along lakes Michigan and Superior have memorials to people who died after being swept off them. A Coast Guard officer at Grand Marais Michigan told me they always die in 3s. Usually two mistaken teen immortals and one older man who can't bear to watch them die.

[SunkenCiv]

Because the water is fresh, it comes in something like 7/6ths faster, meaning that a series of waves will take a vessel apart faster on the Lakes than on the oceans and seas (everything else being equal of course).

Years ago I saw a family from south of the border somewhere walk toward the waterline in Grand Haven, staring at the water out to the horizon, and the dad put his hand down, cupped up some, tasted it, and said, basically, it isn’t salty. Foreign visitors are sometimes amazed. It’s weird to think that I take it all for granted — doesn’t everyone have something like this within an easy drive of their homes? :’)

I’ve often enjoyed swimming in wave conditions which probably weren’t safe, but I *always always always* avoid swimming by the piers. Besides unseen crap below the surface that can hook you, knock you cold, etc, the currents are much, much worse. Natural undertow is nothing by comparison.

The Edmund Fitzgerald had been the largest vessel ever on the Lakes, and nothing surpassed it for decades, probably due to economic factors.

[cripplecreek]

I always liked this video.

A Gale on Lake Superior December 29th. 1993 aboard the Charles Wilson

[colorado tanker]

Roman Geneva was originally founded as a border town to protect Gaul against the Helvetii. After the fall of the Empire it was absorbed into the Burgundian kingdom.

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks ct.

[Mr Radical]

sorry, but the innocent Swiss milkgirl is to be played by Michelle Obama.

[MadMax, the Grinning Reaper]

let’s just say that the innocent Swiss milkgirl has her own pair of Alps. Michele - more like sand-dunes. Bad casting.

I hear that Stormy Daniels is available for the part.