A giant is born from the depths of the ocean, a catastrophe waiting to happen. As hot magma bubbles up from the depths of the earth, it pushes through the surface and Krakatoa is born. The 1883 eruption of Krakatoa was devastating. The resulting toxic gases, deadly pyroclastic flows, and giant tsunamis are astonishing. The eruption of Krakatoa was the loudest eruption ever heard in history. Krakatoa is located in the Sunda Strait between Java and Sumatra in Indonesia. The island of Krakatoa is a result of the subduction of the Indo-Australian tectonic plate underneath the Eurasian plate. In this subduction zone there are over 130 active volcanoes that make up the Indonesian island arc system. As one tectonic plate slides underneath the other,
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These peaks are named Perboewatan, Danan, and Rakata. Perboewatan is the most active of the three peaks. Danan is the middle peak and Rakata is the largest of the three. The island as a whole is about 3 miles wide and 5.5 miles long. (Bagley) There were a series of smaller eruptions a few months before the largest and final eruption. Local fishermen and villagers marveled at the clouds of ash and smoke looming above the giant volcano. They weren’t exactly sure what was going on with the volcano, but they had no idea of the power waiting to explode from its three …show more content…
The sunlight shining through the dust and reflecting off the particles produced beautiful sunsets for months. In 2004, researchers hypothesized that the blood red sky in Edvard Munch’s famous 1893 painting The Scream is an actual representation of how the sky really looked over Norway after Krakatoa’s eruption in 1883. The eruption is also believed to have added to the islands of Verlaten and Lang in Indonesia, near the site of the Krakatoa eruption. (The Eruption of Krakatoa)
After Krakatoa blew itself apart, a new island has formed in its place. This new island is called Anak Krakatau, meaning “Child of Krakatoa”. This new child volcano is a hot spot for scientific study. Volcanologists have been studying Anak Krakatau extensively since 1960. Anak Krakatau is also a site of study for island biogeography and founder populations. Anak Krakatau is currently active and is growing at a rate of 13 cm per week. (The Eruption of Krakatoa)
The 1883 eruption of Krakatoa was undeniably devastating. Men, women and children alike lost their lives during this catastrophic natural disaster. They were no match for Krakatoa’s poisonous gases, pyroclastic flows, and towering tsunamis. The new child volcano that lies on Krakatoa’s island is a reminder of the wrath of Krakatoa’s 1883 eruption that shook the
These peaks are named Perboewatan, Danan, and Rakata. Perboewatan is the most active of the three peaks. Danan is the middle peak and Rakata is the largest of the three. The island as a whole is about 3 miles wide and 5.5 miles long. (Bagley) There were a series of smaller eruptions a few months before the largest and final eruption. Local fishermen and villagers marveled at the clouds of ash and smoke looming above the giant volcano. They weren’t exactly sure what was going on with the volcano, but they had no idea of the power waiting to explode from its three …show more content…
The sunlight shining through the dust and reflecting off the particles produced beautiful sunsets for months. In 2004, researchers hypothesized that the blood red sky in Edvard Munch’s famous 1893 painting The Scream is an actual representation of how the sky really looked over Norway after Krakatoa’s eruption in 1883. The eruption is also believed to have added to the islands of Verlaten and Lang in Indonesia, near the site of the Krakatoa eruption. (The Eruption of Krakatoa)
After Krakatoa blew itself apart, a new island has formed in its place. This new island is called Anak Krakatau, meaning “Child of Krakatoa”. This new child volcano is a hot spot for scientific study. Volcanologists have been studying Anak Krakatau extensively since 1960. Anak Krakatau is also a site of study for island biogeography and founder populations. Anak Krakatau is currently active and is growing at a rate of 13 cm per week. (The Eruption of Krakatoa)
The 1883 eruption of Krakatoa was undeniably devastating. Men, women and children alike lost their lives during this catastrophic natural disaster. They were no match for Krakatoa’s poisonous gases, pyroclastic flows, and towering tsunamis. The new child volcano that lies on Krakatoa’s island is a reminder of the wrath of Krakatoa’s 1883 eruption that shook the