Back in Time Today
When the Krakatoa volcano erupted on August 27, 1883, it wasn’t just a natural disaster—it was a planet-altering explosion. Located in the Sunda Strait between Java and Sumatra, the eruption was one of the deadliest and most destructive volcanic events in recorded history. But the true shocker? The blast didn’t just kill tens of thousands—it rewrote the Earth’s climate, inspired works of art, and even messed with sunsets around the globe. Here are 7 unbelievable ways the world was never the same.
1. It Was One of the Loudest Sounds Ever Recorded
The eruption was so loud it ruptured eardrums 40 miles away and was heard nearly 3,000 miles off in places like Australia and the island of Rodrigues near Mauritius. The sound reverberated around the world, creating a sonic boom of unimaginable scale. It remains one of the loudest sounds in modern history, second only to nuclear blasts.
2. The Blast Killed Over 36,000 People in Minutes
Tsunamis triggered by the volcanic collapse wiped out entire coastal villages. The waves, reaching heights of over 100 feet, traveled across the Indian Ocean at incredible speeds. This swift devastation resulted in the tragic loss of over 36,000 lives, with most perishing not from lava but from these titanic waves.
3. The Sky Turned Eerie Colors Around the Globe
From London to New York, people reported witnessing strange, vibrant sunsets. The ash in the atmosphere scattered sunlight, turning skies into an eerie spectacle of crimson, orange, and even green. These dramatic “blood-red” sunsets lasted for months, inspiring awe and fear alike across the world.
4. It Ejected So Much Ash, It Changed Global Weather
Krakatoa didn’t just spew lava—it ejected an estimated six cubic miles of ash and debris into the upper atmosphere. This ash formed a global veil, reducing sunlight and causing a drop in global temperatures by nearly 1.2°F (0.7°C) for years. Scientists now refer to this phenomenon as a “volcanic winter,” marking a significant climatic change.
5. Artists and Writers Were Inspired by the Fallout
The otherworldly skies left an indelible mark on artists and writers. It’s widely believed that Edvard Munch’s “The Scream” was inspired by the vivid Krakatoa sunsets he witnessed in Norway. Poets and authors also described these apocalyptic skies, embedding the eruption within cultural memory in a profound way.
6. It Disrupted Global Telegraph Networks
Krakatoa’s explosion produced powerful atmospheric pressure waves, circling the Earth multiple times. These waves caused inexplicable disruptions to global telegraph systems for days. In 1883, such a phenomenon was akin to today’s global internet outages, showcasing the eruption’s far-reaching impact on communication.
7. It Gave Birth to a New Volcano—Anak Krakatoa
Krakatoa’s story continued when a new island-volcano emerged in 1927, named “Anak Krakatoa” (Child of Krakatoa). This new volcano remains active, frequently smoking and rumbling, serving as a constant reminder of the Earth’s dynamic nature. It symbolizes the cycle of destruction and creation inherent in our planet’s geology.