Krakatau volcano
Caldera 813 m (2,667 ft.) / Anak Krakatau: 189 m
Sunda Strait, Indonesia, -6.1°S / 105.42°E
Current status: minor activity or eruption warning (3 out of 5)
Krakatau webcams / live data
Krakatau volcano books | Tours
Sunda Strait, Indonesia, -6.1°S / 105.42°E
Current status: minor activity or eruption warning (3 out of 5)
Krakatau webcams / live data
Krakatau volcano books | Tours
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Last update: 22 Feb 2017 (unrest, eruption pause or eruption ended)
Typical eruption style: Explosive. Construction of a cinder cone island (Anak Krakatau) inside the caldera formed by the 1883 eruption. Frequent strombolian activity.
Krakatau volcano eruptions: 1530, 1680-81, 1684, 1883 (Plinian eruption), 1927-30, 1931-32, 1932-34, 1935, 1936, 1937, 1938-40, 1941, 1942, 1943, 1944, 1945, 1946, 1946-47, 1949, 1950, 1952, 1953, 1955, 1958-59, 1959-63, 1965(?), 1969(?), 1972-73, 1975, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1988, 1992-93, 1994-95, 1996, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2007-8, April 2009-early 2010, Oct 2010 - March 2011, July-Oct 2011, Jan-May + Sep 2012, 2015(?), 2017
Typical eruption style: Explosive. Construction of a cinder cone island (Anak Krakatau) inside the caldera formed by the 1883 eruption. Frequent strombolian activity.
Krakatau volcano eruptions: 1530, 1680-81, 1684, 1883 (Plinian eruption), 1927-30, 1931-32, 1932-34, 1935, 1936, 1937, 1938-40, 1941, 1942, 1943, 1944, 1945, 1946, 1946-47, 1949, 1950, 1952, 1953, 1955, 1958-59, 1959-63, 1965(?), 1969(?), 1972-73, 1975, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1988, 1992-93, 1994-95, 1996, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2007-8, April 2009-early 2010, Oct 2010 - March 2011, July-Oct 2011, Jan-May + Sep 2012, 2015(?), 2017
| Time | Mag. / Depth | Distance | Location |
Krakatau exploded spectacularly in a devastating Plinian eruption 1883 that killed more than 30,000 people (mostly by the huge tsunamis triggered by the eruption). The eruption was one of the first global news events after telegraph lines had connected the different continents.
Background:
The renowned volcano Krakatau (or Krakatoa) lies in the Sunda Strait between Java and Sumatra. Collapse of the ancestral Krakatau edifice, perhaps in 416 AD, formed a 7-km-wide caldera. Remnants of this ancestral volcano are preserved in Verlaten and Lang Islands; subsequently Rakata, Danan and Perbuwatan volcanoes were formed, coalescing to create the pre-1883 Krakatau Island. Caldera collapse during the catastrophic 1883 eruption destroyed Danan and Perbuwatan volcanoes, and left only a remnant of Rakata volcano. This eruption, the 2nd largest in Indonesia during historical time, caused more than 36,000 fatalities, most as a result of devastating tsunamis that swept the adjacent coastlines of Sumatra and Java. Pyroclastic surges traveled 40 km across the Sunda Strait and reached the Sumatra coast. After a quiescence of less than a half century, the post-collapse cone of Anak Krakatau (Child of Krakatau) was constructed within the 1883 caldera at a point between the former cones of Danan and Perbuwatan. Anak Krakatau has been the site of frequent eruptions since 1927.---
Source: GVP, Smithsonian Institution
Krakatau Photos:
Zoom onto the expanding ejected plug of the explosion; only few of the blocks are actually glowing red. At night, this means that most blocks won't be visible! (Photo: To... |
A barrage of bombs hits the water, some quite far from the shore. (Photo: Iris Karinkanta) |
Lightning in the eruption ash column of an explosion of Anak Krakatau (Nov 2010) (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) |
One of the rare (every 2-12 hrs approximately) vulcanian-type explosions at night with a large lightning forming inside the turbulent ash cloud. (1 Sep 09) (Photo: Tom Pf... |
A fraction of a second later, the largest blocks are falling onto the slope of the cone, leaving dense trails of ash behind in the air, while the ash cloud expands, parts... |
The ash cloud expands and small pyroclastic flows develop from dense ash both ejected and whirled up by impacts on the upper flanks of the cone. (Photo: Jorge Santos) |
Krakatau volcano tours
Latest satellite images
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 NASA satellite image of the Sunda Strait, Indonesia | |  NASA satellite image of the island group of Krakatau. | |  Close-up of Anak Krakatau volcanic island, with its recent lava flows well visible. |
Krakatoa - the world's most infamous volcano
The island group of Krakatoa (or Krakatau) lies in the Sunda Strait between Java and Sumatra. Krakatoa is infamous for its violent Plinian eruption in 1883, that destroyed the previous volcanic edifice and enlarged its caldera.
Collapse of the former volcanic edifice, perhaps in 416 AD, had formed a 7-km-wide caldera. Remnants of this ancestral volcano are preserved in Verlaten and Lang Islands; subsequently Rakata, Danan and Perbuwatan volcanoes were formed, coalescing to create the pre-1883 Krakatoa island. Caldera collapse during the catastrophic 1883 eruption destroyed Danan and Perbuwatan volcanoes, and left only a remnant of Rakata volcano.
This eruption, the 2nd largest in Indonesia during historical time (the most violent being the eruption of Tambora in 1815), caused more than 36,000 fatalities, most as a result of devastating tsunamis that swept the adjacent coastlines of Sumatra and Java. Pyroclastic surges traveled 40 km across the Sunda Strait and reached the Sumatra coast. After a quiescence of less than a half century, the post-collapse cone of Anak Krakatoa ("Child of Krakatoa") was constructed within the 1883 caldera at a point between the former cones of Danan and Perbuwatan. Anak Krakatau has been the site of frequent eruptions since 1927.
(adapted from GVP)
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Krakatau volcano, Sunda Strait: Krakatau Volcano Special
(expedition to study & observe Anak Krakatau volcano and its activity)
Krakatau started erupting again on 19 Feb 2017. This is your chance to see one of the world's most famous volcanoes in activity!
During this physically EASY expedition, you have the unique chance to experience one of the world's most beautiful and powerful volcanoes. Depending on which date, we spend 2-4 full days and nights on and around Krakatau volcano and stay in in a beautiful camp on one of the islands.
Watching Krakatau's fireworks when it is active is truly spectacular and we can go to various viewpoints on Anak Krakatau and neighboring islands as well from a chartered boat at our disposal.
Even when there is no eruption, the crater of Krakatau and its lunar surroundings, its fumaroles, the frozen lava flows, spectacular pumice cliffs of what remains of the island complex destroyed in 1883, hot springs, coral reefs and many other highlights make this a perfect trip if you like a volcano extension out from Jakarta.
Krakatau's fantastic exotic setting combined with the luxury of pleasant baths, beaches, fresh seafood and excellent organization from our experienced local crew round out the trip. ...more info
