True tides—changes in water level caused by the gravitational forces of the sun and moon—do occur in a semi-diurnal (twice daily) pattern on the Great Lakes. Studies indicate that the Great Lakes spring tide, the largest tides caused by the combined forces of the sun and moon, is less than five centimeters in height.

Generally, a tsunami is caused by an Earthquake, volcanic eruption, or other underwater explosions such as landslides, glacier movement or even meteorite impacts. But tsunamis on the Great Lakes, known as ‘meteotsunamis’, can also happen.

We looked up and realized all these people were in the water drowning and there was no one to help.” Of the 100 meteotsunamis that occur on average in the Great Lakes, 29 hit the Chicago area per year. Lake Michigan — long recognized as the deadliest of the Great Lakes — sees the most of these rogue waves each year.

Lake Superior

Specifically, on Wednesday, October 27, 2010, buoy no. 45136, operated by Environment Canada, in northern Lake Superior recorded a significant wave height of 26.6 feet (this is average height of 1/3 of the highest waves over an hour), and buoy no.

Edmund Fitzgerald sank at the eastern edge of the area of high wind where the long fetch, or distance that wind blows over water, produced significant waves averaging over 23 feet (7.0 m) by 7:00 p.m. and over 25 feet (7.6 m) at 8:00 p.m. The simulation also showed one in 100 waves reaching 36 feet (11 m) and one out …

Lake Tahoe – California/Nevada With a maximum depth of 1,645 feet, Lake Tahoe has beautiful crystal-clear waters at an elevation of 6,225 feet above sea level. With its phenomenal clarity, this ancient lake has the purest waters in North America, making it the clearest lake in the U.S.