A Volcanic Island

Situated between the Indonesian islands of Java and Sumatra, Krakatau is a 2,667 ft volcanic island in the Sundra Straits. The Krakatau volcanic complex refers to the islands of Sertung, Panjang, Rakata, and Anak Krakatau. Before the caldera collapse in 416AD, old Krakatau was believed to be more than 6,500 ft in height with a radius of 5.6 miles. Then, it became Sertung, Panjang, and Rakata.

The 1883 Krakatau eruption and collapse of the caldera was one of most devastating natural disasters of all time . Measured at a Volcanic Explosivity Index of 6, the eruption was comparable to 13,000 times the “Little Boy” nuclear bomb used to annihilate Hiroshima in World War II. The explosion brought about a column of ash and dust reaching almost 7 miles in height and the second biggest tsunami in history with waves measured up to 140 ft in height. It destroyed about two thirds of old Krakatau.

Eventually, there were 165 villages destroyed and more than 36,000 lives lost. The sound of the 1883 Krakatau eruption could be heard as far as 3,000 miles away on the island of Rodrigues, close to Mauritius.

Thereafter, Krakatau was dormant until 1927 when small eruptions gave birth to Anak Krakatau (Son of Krakatau). From 1950 onwards, Anak Krakatau has been growing at an average rate of 5 inches per week. The eruptions of Anak Krakatau have been of great interest to volcanologists. A history of Anak Krakatau eruptions shows that it is a very active volcano with some eruptions lasting more than a month.

Having grown to a height of 1,500 feet in 2006, the active Anak Krakatau poses some danger to tourists and the fishermen around the Sundra Straits. Will the eruptions of 1883 happen again ? Judging from the increasing intensity of recent eruptions, some experts place Anak Krakatau on the highest alert . In March 2009, The Jakarta Post reported that sounds and tremors related to a recent Anak Krakatau eruption were recorded at an observation post in Anyer, Banten, which is more than 40 km away. While a Krakatau Volcano tour is much desired by tourists who travel to these parts, it's best to practice a little caution in these times. Krakatau is very much alive!