On July 16, enormous slabs of glacier calved from Ilulissat Icefjord in Greenland, producing tsunami-like displacement waves that surged toward a nearby tour boat. A passenger filmed the collapse as the captain accelerated to ride the smooth, deep-water rollers and avoid a collision. The footage highlights both the spectacular power of calving glaciers and growing concerns as warming temperatures increase the frequency of such events.
Massive Greenland Glacier Collapses, Sends Tsunami-Like Rollers Toward Tour Boat — Miraculous Escape Caught on Video
Greenland Glacier Implodes and Unleashes Tsunami Wave at Tour Boat (Video)
On July 16, a dramatic calving event at Greenland's famed Ilulissat Icefjord produced a startling — and viral — display of nature's power when enormous, apartment-sized slabs of ice broke away and plunged into the fjord.
What Happened
Passenger Magnus Nisse Bech Andersen, aboard a local tour boat, filmed the moment giant chunks of glacier sheared off the face and smashed into the water. The collapse released huge kinetic energy that generated long, tsunami-like displacement waves racing straight toward the vessel. Watch the clip: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/I03m4OfsAz4.
This is the biggest one I've ever seen.
How the Boat Avoided Disaster
Fortunately, because the calving occurred in relatively deep water, the disturbance radiated outward as smooth, long rollers rather than breaking into hazardous white water. The tour boat's captain reacted quickly, gunning the throttle and riding over the crests to avoid a direct hit — a narrow escape for everyone on board.
Why This Attracted Surfers and Wave Hunters
The deep-water displacement swell displayed many of the classic features that novelty-wave specialists prize: glassy, powerful rollers moving through an eerie, iceberg-strewn landscape. Pro wave chasers and skimboarding talents such as Ben Gravy, Dylan Graves and Blair Conklin have sought out similar glacier-generated swells in Alaska and Norway, and many noted the Ilulissat footage as a missed opportunity for such riders — though no surfers or tow teams appear in this clip.
Context: Climate And Safety
While visually spectacular, calving events like this are a reminder of changing polar conditions. Warmer temperatures are contributing to more frequent and larger calving episodes across northern latitudes, increasing both the visual drama and the hazards for nearby vessels and people. These events are worth watching for their scientific and scenic value, but they can be dangerous and unpredictable.
Source: Originally published by Surfer on Jul 30, 2026. Footage captured by Magnus Nisse Bech Andersen.
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