This Day In History: Krakatoa Explodes, August 26-27, 1883
August 26th, 2008 at 10:40 am

It’s been 125 years since the largest volcanic eruption in recorded history–the explosion, earthquake and subsequent tsunami caused by Krakatoa, an island in Indonesia. Krakatoa is still a benchmark for extreme seismic activity, as it’s explosion was 13,000 times more powerful than one of the bombs dropped on Hiroshima.

The Savage Earth series, which was originally broadcast in ‘98, has a website frequently used for reference materials about about earthquakes and volcanoes, and tsunamis.

When the devastating 2004 tsunami happened, Krakatoa expert Simon Winchester visited NewsHour to explain the seismic occurrence.

Did Krakatoa erupt sometime in the 4th century? See this site from an episode of Secrets of the Dead that explores that very question.

See NOVA’s timeline of the most major tsunamis in recorded history, with predictions as to when the next one may strike, from ‘Wave that Shook The World’.

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1 comment

#1
10/8/08 :: 4:21 pm
volcano lover Says:

i <3 krakatoa

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