00:00A wave off Canada reached 58 feet, nearly three times the height of nearby seas.
00:05The surrounding waves were about 20 feet high, making this one stand out even more.
00:10A floating device that tracks ocean conditions recorded the wave off Vancouver Island in 2020.
00:16Its readings captured the full height, from the lowest point to the top.
00:20The floating device recorded the wave about four miles from shore,
00:24but nobody filmed the wave itself as it rose above the surrounding sea.
00:28These waves form when energy in the sea briefly gathers into one large peak.
00:33They were once dismissed as sailors' tails until ocean instruments began recording them.
00:38It was not the tallest wave recorded, but its size compared with nearby waves was exceptional.
00:44Such a contrast might occur only once every 1-300 years, researchers estimate.
00:49Disclosure. This video contains stock footage and content created or enhanced using AI-assisted tools.
