1883 eruption of Krakatoa

1883 eruption of Krakatoa
Photograph during the eruption in 1883
Volcano	Krakatoa
Start date	20 May 1883[1]
End date	21 October 1883 (1883-10-21)[1]
Type	Plinian eruption[2]
Location	Krakatoa archipelago, Sunda Strait, Dutch East Indies (now Indonesia) 6°06′07″S 105°25′23″E / 6.102°S 105.423°E / -6.102; 105.423
VEI	6[1]
Impact	Over 70% of the island of Krakatoa destroyed and collapsed into a caldera; 20 million tons of sulfur released; volcanic winter causes five-year average world temperature drop of 1.2 °C (2.2 °F)[citation needed]
Deaths	36,417–120,000
The change in geography after the eruption

Beginning on 20 May 1883, and ending on 21 October 1883, the volcanic island of Krakatoa, located in the Sunda Strait, had repeated, months long volcanic eruptions. The most destructive of these eruptions occurred on 27 August, when over 70% of the island and its surrounding archipelago were destroyed when it erupted so violently it collapsed itself into a caldera. The August eruption had an estimated Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI) of 6, and is one of the deadliest and most destructive volcanic events in recorded history.

The explosion was heard 3,110 kilometres (1,930 mi) away in Perth, Western Australia, and Rodrigues near Mauritius, 4,800 kilometres (3,000 mi) away.^[3] The acoustic pressure wave circled the globe more than three times.^[4]: 63 At least 36,417 deaths are attributed to the eruption and the tsunamis it created. Significant additional effects were felt worldwide in the days and weeks after the volcano's eruption. Additional seismic activity was reported until February 1884, but any reports after October 1883 were dismissed by Rogier Verbeek's subsequent investigation into the eruption.