Sumatra Krakatoa Volcano (Gunung Krakatau)

(Sumatra, Indonesia)

Known throughout the world for its enormous eruption in 1883, the Krakatoa Volcano / Gunung Krakatau caused devastation and destruction on a grand scale.

Mount Krakatoa was made even more famous in 1969, when the iconic Hollywood movie, 'Krakatoa: East of Java' was made - although its title was always something of a misnomer, since the volcano is actually located in West Java. The sheer force of Krakatoa's eruption is quite impossible to imagine, although it is thought that as many as 40,000 people lost their lives as a direct result of its violent volcanic activity.

General Information

Many of those who died at this time were killed by the lava flows that managed to cross some 40 km / 25 miles of the Indian Ocean, quite literally incinerating countless coastal villages in this part of Sumatra when it floated across. Others died as a result of the heavy clouds of ash, or were engulfed by the subsequent tidal waves, some of which were more than 25 metres / 82 feet high.

It is said that the initial explosion of Mount Krakatoa was just so powerful (equivalent of 10,000 Hiroshima bombs) that is was heard by one-third of the world and caused dramatic sunset after-glows as far away as New York. Left as a permanent memorial to this tragic event, the Krakatau Monument consists of a giant maritime buoy, washed up on a hillside following the eruption, and can be found on the Jalan Verteran, in Bandarlampung, Lampung.

In 1927, the Gunung Krakatau once again came to life and erupted on a smaller scale, causing the creation of the adjoining island named the Child of Krakatau (Anak Krakatau). Guided boat tours around the island are understandably incredibly popular and can be arranged by most large hotels. There is a restricted zone radiating around the island, which boats are not permitted to enter.