Krakatoa

Krakatoa, also spelled Krakatau, is a volcanic island or volcanic island group located in the Sunda Strait between the Indonesian islands of Java and Sumatra. It lies within the Indonesian province of Lampung and is part of the Krakatoa archipelago. The, historically, famous eruption did not come from a single peak but from a complex volcanic system that included several small islands such as Rakata, Danan, and Perboewatan before the 1883 event.

The most notable activity occurred in August 1883, when a colossal eruption destroyed much of the island group. A large portion of Krakatoa collapsed, forming a caldera that subsequently gave rise to a new island, Anak Krakatau (Child of Krakatoa). The eruption produced an extremely tall volcanic column and widespread debris; shock waves were heard thousands of kilometers away, and the event generated massive tsunamis that caused extensive loss of life and property around the surrounding coasts of Java and Sumatra, as well as distant areas around the Indian Ocean. The eruption also had significant climatic effects, with reports of temporary global cooling in the following years.

After the 1883 event, the original islands gradually eroded and subsided. In the late 1920s, Anak Krakatau began to rise from the sea within the surviving caldera and has since formed a new volcanic island that remains active. Periodic eruptions continue to shape the coastline and pose hazards to nearby coastal communities and maritime routes.

Krakatoa is a focal point in the study of volcanology, caldera formation, and the atmospheric and oceanic impacts of large explosive eruptions. It remains an active and closely monitored site within Indonesia’s volcanic belt.