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Fastest Waves
The fastest ocean waves are also the rarest and the most dangerous. They are tsunamis, very long waves that move across the open sea at speeds approaching 500 miles per hour (800 kph).
A tsunami (sometimes incorrectly called a "tidal wave") is caused by a geological event like an earthquake, underwater landslide, or volcanic eruption. As it moves across the open sea it is only a few feet high, although it may be more than 100 miles long (160 kilometers). Ships do not notice its passage.
But when it reaches the shore, interaction with the bottom slows the wave down and all its energy is concentrated at the surface. A wall of water quickly builds up that can be as high as a multi-story building.

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