Giant waves around the world
Gigantic waves are awe-inspiring and fearsome sights.
In this photo, a huge wave crashes over onlookers washing them off the sea wall of Cape Town's Kalk Bay Harbour, August 27, 2005.
The two men were later rescued as storms created waves of an estimated nine metres (29.5 feet).
Pebble Beach, California
A wave crashes behind Todd Linehan on the 18th green at Pebble Beach Golf Links in Pebble Beach, California, December 10, 2014.
Vina del Mar city, Chile
Tourists watch high Pacific Ocean waves pound the coast in Vina del Mar city, Chile on January 25, 2016.
Waves crash against a lighthouse as the wind blows at around 100 kph (62 mph), in Boulogne-sur-Mer, northern France, February 7, 2016.
Newhaven Harbour, England
Huge waves break over the lighthouse on Newhaven Harbour as a ferry passes by on the south coast of England on January 10, 2015 after a second Atlantic storm brought strong winds.
Nazare, Portugal
Big-wave surfer Garrett McNamara of the U.S. drops in on a large wave at Praia do Norte in Nazare, Portugal, November 1, 2013.
McNamara, who lives in Haleiwa, Hawaii, won the Biggest Wave title at the 2012 Billabong XXL Big Wave Awards with his world record 78-foot (24-metre) wave ridden at Praia do Norte, Nazare, November 1, 2011.
China's Zhejiang Province
A huge wave, created by Typhoon Fitow making landfall, hits the dike as guards run along it in Wenling, Zhejiang province, China, October 6, 2013.
Seal Beach, California
Big waves crash ashore and into the pier at Seal Beach, California on August 27, 2014, where surging ocean water resulting from Hurricane Marie almost reached beachfront homes.
Pornic, France
A wave crashes on the protecting wall at the fishing harbor in Pornic, France as stormy weather with high winds hits the French Atlantic coast, January 11, 2016.
China
Huge waves are seen as typhoon Chan-hom comes near Wenling, east China's Zhejiang province on July 10, 2015.
Asturias, Spain
Huge waves crash on the San Esteban de Pravia seafront in the northern Spanish region of Asturias, February 24, 2015.
Boulogne-sur-mer, France
Waves break on a jetty holding wind turbines in the Channel port of Boulogne-sur-mer, France, November 2013.
Fukushima, Japan
Tsunami waves hit the coast of Minamisoma in Fukushima prefecture, Japan, after a massive earthquake and tsunami struck the country's northeast coast, March 11, 2011.
Nazare, Portugal
A surfer rides a monster wave off Praia do Norte in Nazare, central Portugal, December 11, 2014.
The beach has become famous for surfers around the world after Hawaiian surfer Garrett McNamara set a world record for the largest wave surfed in 2011.
China
Residents gather to see huge waves stirred up by strong wind as typhoon Soudelor draws near the mainland of China in Wenling, east China's Zhejiang province on August 8, 2015.
Japan
High waves from typhoon Phanfone batter a breakwater at a port at Kihou town in Mie prefecture, central Japan, October 6, 2014.
Dhuba, Saudi Arabia
A Saudi man runs in front of a big wave as high winds batter the coast on February 11, 2015 in the Saudi Red Sea port city of Dhuba, located in Tabuk Province, northwest of the Saudi capital Riyadh.
Brighton, England
A woman watches giant waves crashing on the seafront by Brighton pier in southern England, December 15, 2011.
Praia do Norte, Portugal
A surfer drops in on a large wave at Praia do Norte, in Nazare, Portugal, December 11, 2014.
Praia do Norte beach is a surfer's paradise for big waves.
Sussex, England
Large waves hit the lighthouse and harbor at high tide at Newhaven in Sussex, southern England, February 15, 2014.
Hainan Province, China
Tourists take pictures as a storm surge hits the coastline under the influence of Typoon Wutip in Sanya, Hainan province, September 30, 2013.
Porthcawl, Wales
People look on as high waves strike the harbor wall at Porthcawl, south Wales, February 8 2014.
Fujian province, China
A huge wave crashes over a wall as two people ride on a scooter over a pier in Hui'an county in Quanzhou, east China's Fujian province on September 29, 2015.
Biarritz, France
The Rock of the Virgin Mary (Rocher de la Vierge) gets battered by a big wave as a storm brings strong winds in Biarritz, south western France, January 6, 2015.
Cornwall, England
Storm waves break at Porthleven in Cornwall, England, February 8, 204.
Shandong Province, China
A man runs away as waves whipped up by winds surge past a barrier onto a seaside road in Yantai, Shandong Province, China, May 27, 2013.
Montevideo
High waves crash against the waterfront during a heavy wind and rain storm in Montevideo, Uruguay, October 23, 2012.
Jiangsu Province, China
Vehicles are hit by a storm surge created by Typhoon Usagi on the coastline in Lianyungang, Jiangsu province, China, September 24, 2013.
Newhaven, England
Newhaven lighthouse is battered by waves in Newhaven on the south coast of England, February 15, 2014.
Brittany, France
Waves crash over the breakwater of Saint Evette harbor at Esquibien in Brittany as an Atlantic storm hits western France, December 23, 2013.
Fierce winds and rain battered the coast causing 240,000 homes to lose electricity. Wind speeds reached 80 mph.