Why are tsunamis a natural hazard to Canadians?
Tsunamis can affect people by taking lives and destroying natural resources such as fishing, aquaculture, forestry, agriculture and mining. Similarly, tsunamis can destroy infrastructure such as transportation corridors, telecommunication and hydroelectric cables, communities, and recreation and tourism facilities. Since many of these natural resources and infrastructure are located along or near Canadas coastlines and lakes, the effects of a major tsunami can be devastating. Tsunami events have occurred on Canadas Pacific and Atlantic coasts, but more frequently on the Pacific coast. The west coast is located within the Pacific Ring of Fire, which consists of seismically active continental margins surrounding the Pacific basin. Thus, the potential for tsunamis is greater in the Pacific than the Atlantic Ocean. Nevertheless, Canadas worst tsunami disaster occurred on the east coast, along the southern coast of Newfoundland in 1929. Since the catastrophic Indian Ocean tsunami of Decembe
