When was the greatest volcanic
eruption?
The greatest volcanic eruption,
in modern times, was on an island in the Sundra Strait between Sumatra and
Java. On August 27, 1883, the volcano of Krakatoa suddenly erupted with a
tremendous explosion that has been estimated to be the equivalent of 26 large
atomic bombs. Rocks and ash where hurled up to 12 miles in the air and over
half the island was blown away. More than 160 villages were destroyed and 36,000
people were killed by 120-foot-high waves which were caused by the explosion.
The sound of the eruption was
clearly heard four hours later nearly 3,000 miles away. Dust and ashes fell,
day later, on Singapore and southern Java. Clouds of volcanic dust thrown high
into the atmosphere travelled around the world and caused spectacular sunsets,
even as far away as western Europe.
In the eruptions, which lasted
two days, the highest part of the island became a huge crated which was filled
by the sea. The remaining part was covered with layers of lave and ash which
stayed hot for weeks.
No life was left on the island.
But a small monkey was rescued from a floating piece of wood in the Sundra
Strait. She was badly burned, but had survived one of the worst volcanic
disasters ever recorded in history.
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