It was August 26, 1883, when the volcano on Krakatau, a small island between Sumatra & Java, cataclysmically erupted. It was the greatest natural disaster of the 19th century.

The Krakatau blast was estimated to be 10,000 times more powerful than the “Little Boy” bomb which was dropped in Hiroshima. Barographs all over the world recorded that the shock waves from the final explosion travelled around the globe seven times.

The loud explosions from the eruption could be heard 4,800 km away in Alice Springs, Australia. The sound was so powerful that it shattered the eardrums of sailors on ships in the Sunda Strait. Hot gas & giant tsunamis (up to 40 metres high) devastated coastal areas, destroying villages & caused the majority of the 36,000 deaths of this disaster.

Ash emissions from the eruption generated dramatic sunsets around the world as the sky was bathed in an unearthly red glow. The colorful skies inspired many famous paintings, including The Scream by Norway’s Edvard Munch & various works by England’s William Ashcroft.

Readers of this article might be interested to know that a new island volcano, called “Anak Krakatau” or “Child of Krakatau”, rose above the waterline in 1930 in the former Krakatau site. This child volcano has been growing steadily to a height of more than 300 metres today with minor eruptions now and then.

If adventure travel is your thing, Anak Krakatau is the must go destination. You can dive, swim, snorkle or hike up to the crater. Just remember to stay vigilant and enjoy the thrill.