Krakatoa

volcano · Indonesia · natural disaster

Massive 1883 Eruption. In 1883, Krakatoa exploded so powerfully that it destroyed most of the island and created a huge underwater bowl called a caldera. The explosion was one of the loudest sounds in recorded history.

Island Remains. Today, Krakatoa is actually a group of four islands in the Sunda Strait between Java and Sumatra in Indonesia. The biggest piece left is an island called Rakata, which is just one small remnant of what used to be there.

How It Was Born. Krakatoa is a caldera volcano, which means it's formed when a volcano erupts so violently that it collapses inward and creates a giant crater. This happened to Krakatoa during that catastrophic 1883 explosion.

Located in Indonesia. Krakatoa sits in the Sunda Strait, a waterway between the Indonesian islands of Java and Sumatra. It's in the Lampung province and is part of the Ring of Fire, an area of the Pacific Ocean with lots of volcanic activity.

Underwater Crater. The caldera, or crater, that formed after the eruption is actually underwater since the volcano sits in a strait. New islands have been slowly growing and forming in this crater over the years.