Key Information
Krakatoa
| Type | Caldera, Volcanic Archipelago, Stratovolcano |
| Area | 12 to 13 square miles |
| Highest Point | 2,671 ft |
| Discovered | Unknown |
| Settled | Never permantently settled |
| Age | Around 60,000 years ago |
Learning Point
- When Krakatoa erupted in 1883, it unleashed a mind-blowing force 13,000 times more powerful than an atomic bomb, registering as a massive VEI 6. It produced the loudest sound ever recorded – heard nearly 3,000 miles away – and collapsed two-thirds of the island into the sea, triggering catastrophic tsunamis. The blast shot so much ash into the atmosphere that it lowered global temperatures and turned skies blood-red worldwide, even inspiring the famous painting The Scream. Today, a hyperactive new volcanic island called Anak Krakatau (“Child of Krakatoa”) is rapidly growing in its place, proving the Earth is constantly reshaping itself.
Project
- Draw the Krakatoa volcano as it was erupting in 1883.
- Overview
- Types of Volcano
- Volcano Explosivity Index
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Location
| Location | Indonesia |
Fun Facts
- The 1883 eruption was so loud it holds the world record for the loudest sound ever heard by humans—it cracked open the eardrums of sailors who were over 40 miles away!
- The volcano shot so much dusty ash into the sky that it circled the entire planet, making sunsets look bright, spooky orange and green all over the world for months!
- The blast created thousands of pieces of pumice – a special volcanic rock full of air bubbles that is so light it can actually float on top of ocean water like a sponge.
- Krakatoa used to be a tall, green island with three volcanic peaks, but the explosion was so powerful it caused the entire mountain to collapse right into the sea, leaving an underwater crater.
Past Lessons
| 34 | August 22, 2022 | (North America) |
| 205 | July 7, 2026 | (North America) |