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)
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Sunda Strait, Indonesia, -6.1°S / 105.42°E
Current status: minor activity or eruption warning (3 out of 5)
Krakatau webcams / live data | Reports
Krakatau volcano videos
Krakatau volcano books | Tours
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Last update: 17 Jan 2020 (explosive activity continues)
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, 2018 (22 Dec eruption & tsunami)
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, 2018 (22 Dec eruption & tsunami)
| 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... |
Sea reflection of activity from Anak Krakatau volcano (Sunda Strait, Indonesia) on December 2nd, 2018. (Photo: V. Tricou) |
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... |
Powerful strombolian eruption; some blocks become first visible when they leave the black ash cloud. (Anak Krakatau) (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) |
Krakatau volcano tours
Latest satellite images
See also: Sentinel hub | Landsat 8
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 (Indonesia): Krakatau Volcano Special
(expedition to study & observe Anak Krakatau volcano and its activity)
This is your chance to get to know one of the most famous volcanoes with an expert and witness the dramatic changes from the Dec 2018 collapse.
During this physically easy expedition, you have the unique opportunity to experience one of the world's most beautiful and powerful volcanoes. The exact itinerary varies from tour date to tour date, but we usually spend between 2 and 4 full days and nights on and around the volcanic islands of Krakatau. Depending on the intensity of Anak Krakatau's activity we either camp on the beach of the active volcano itself or make our camp on one of the surrounding islands. Watching Krakatau's fireworks when it is active is truly spectacular and we will do so from various viewpoints both on Anak Krakatau itself and the neighboring islands, using the chartered boat we have at our disposal.
Even when there is no eruption, the active volcano of Anak Krakatau with its lunar landscapes, fumaroles and frozen lava flows, and the surrounding islands' spectacular pumice cliffs on what remains of the island complex destroyed in 1883, is well worth exploring. Your expedition leader and tour guide Andi has been closely watching this volcano's activity and changes over the past 15 years and will happily share his geological knowledge with you!
Hot springs and beautiful coral reefs and other natural highlights of this unique bioreserve make this a perfect trip if you like a volcano extension out from Jakarta. The tasty camping food with fresh fish and overall excellent organization by our experienced local crew round up this trip into an unforgettable travel adventure. ...more info
