Krakatoas

Krakatoas is a term used to refer to the Krakatau volcanic archipelago in the Sunda Strait, between the islands of Java and Sumatra in Indonesia. The archipelago comprises several small islands, with the best known being Krakatau (Krakatoa) itself, along with satellite islets such as Lang, Verlaten, and Panjang. Within the caldera formed by past eruptions, Anak Krakatau (Child of Krakatoa) later emerged as a new volcanic island in the 20th century and has continued to grow and erupt intermittently.

The most famous event associated with the Krakatoas is the catastrophic eruption of 1883. Beginning in August 1883, the eruption expelled vast amounts of ash and pumice, generated powerful tsunamis, and produced a dramatic atmospheric and climatic anomaly felt around the world. Contemporary accounts describe the eruption as one of the most violent in recorded history. The violent activity led to the collapse of much of the Original Krakatau, leaving a large caldera and a ring of volcanic islands in the surrounding area. Death toll estimates vary, but tens of thousands of people were killed by the eruption and subsequent tsunamis.

Since 1927, Anak Krakatau has grown within the remaining caldera and has produced ongoing eruptive activity. The Krakatoas remain a volcanically active and ecologically significant area, monitored by Indonesian authorities due to hazards such as eruptions and tsunamis. The archipelago lies within the wider geologic context of the Pacific Ring of Fire and is of interest for geological, oceanographic, and ecological research, as well as for limited scientific tourism.