Krakatoa, Indonesia
One day in 1883 a volcano erupted killing 36,500 people. The name of the volcano is Krakatoa. It lies in the Sunda strait between the islands of Java and Sumatra. Since 1927, small eruptions have been frequent and constructed a new island. Most of the 36,500 deaths were caused by a giant tidal wave and 165 coastal villages were destroyed. Krakatoa’s rumblings were even heard 4,500 kilometers away in the Indian Ocean. Krakatoa was the loudest noise in history. In the afternoon of August 26, 1883 a black cloud of ash rose 17 miles above Krakatoa. The next morning tremendous explosions were heard 2,200 miles away in Australia. Krakatoa released more than seven times the energy of the Hiroshima atomic bomb. It took 44 years to create Anak Krakatoa and on March 1995 it appeared. Anak Krakatoa is the child of Krakatoa. Ash fell on Singapore 840 km to the North. It also fell 1155 km to the southwest and on ships as far as 6076 km west northwest. Three months after the explosion the ash, etc. had risen to higher latitudes causing red sunsets. These unusual sunsets continued for three years. The Krakatoa eruption lowered the global temperature as much as 1.2 degrees Celsius in the year after the eruption. Temperatures didn’t become normal until 1888. Its only known previous eruption was a moderate one in 1680. The farthest point where the explosions were heard was Rodriguez Island near Mauritius, 4811 kilometers away from Krakatoa. When the eruption ended only a third of Krakatoa's formerly 5x9 kilometers remained above sea level. Its first known eruption occurred in 416 A. D. The first indication that something was happening on Krakatoa was when a large earthquake struck the area. Seismic activity became stronger until May 20, 1883, when the volcano abruptly came to life. Seventy pound rocks landed on islands 50 miles away. High amounts of dust etc. in the atmosphere caused the moon to appear blue and green for more than two years.
Information Sources:
volcano.und.nodak.edu/vwdocs/frequent_questions/grp7/asia/question879.html
www.allsands.com/Science/krakatoavolcan_bbo_gn.htm
www.kirtland.cc.mi.us/honors/braden/krakatoa.htm
www.cascadehs.csd.k12.id.us/school/Science/8_projects/Boyd%20Webb/Pages/default.htm
www.whyfiles.org/031volcano/krakatau.html
By: Dylan and Jay
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