Myth about Krakatau

One of the colorful myths about this volcano is that it once erupted long ago. It filled the sky with ash and pelted the earth with lava. Many lightning storms took place and rain poured down, eventually extinguishing the volcano's great flames. With a loud cry of anguish, the volcano sank into the ground with water filling it. This separated the islands of Java and Sumatra and created the Sunda Straight. 

Now first of all, it wasn't that much of a myth. Second of all, only half was really about Krakatau. We assume there aren't many myths about the volcano, because it is at least 25 miles away from land itself.

Anak Krakatau

After the giant explosion it still isn't over. In December 1927, submarine activity from the caldera was reported. On January 28, 1987, the rim of the volcano emerged from the water. Now it erupts many times every few months. It does have a few trees due to the soil though

The scream

Ever wonder why this man is screaming? Well, although it isn't the official reason, the ash of Krakatau turned the sky a deep red-orange globally. So is really screaming about Krakatau!

News Stories

New Zealand -Telegram from the The Poverty Bay Herald and East Coast Newsletter- Tuesday August 28th, 1883 : “BATAVIA [now Djakarta], August 27. A volcano has broken out on the island of Cracka, in the Straits of Sunda. The outburst is terrific, and is plainly visible from this town. News is to hand from Anger and Sering, on the Java coast, and states that a serious influx of sea has been experienced, and much damage has been caused to both places.”

 The Herald of August 30th reported that a sharp earthquake was reported at “Lockhampton” (Rockhampton) on the morning of 29th August in a telegram from Brisbane, Australia.

 A further telegram from Batavia (Djakarta): “The tidal wave experienced at Anger, on the coast of this island has caused the complete destruction of the place, and great loss of life. The recent volcanic eruption on Cracatoa (Krakatau) and the marine disturbances have completely changed the Straits of Sunda, and navigation of the passage is now attended with great danger.”

 From New York on August 30th: “Exceptionally high tides have been experienced along the Atlantic sea-board, and, owing to the invasion of the sea, serious damage has been caused at several coast towns”.

 Throughout the week, concerns had been held for the vessel Clansman en route from Lyttelton to Auckland. She was long overdue, and nothing had been seen of her in the turbulent waters caused by the southerly storms and tsunami. She limped into Auckland Harbour on Saturday September 1st in a very battered condition, an epic 23 days out from Lyttelton. The Herald noted that she: “Experienced a succession of gales and had her deck swept by enormous seas. Arrived in battered condition.” In the same issue a telegram from London: “reports from Java estimate 30,000 lives lost due to the tidal wave.”

Superlative

This volcano has many different "characteristics". It is deadly, it's loud, it's explosive and very destructive. Over all we think it is most destructive.

Thanks to all of our sources.

All links are present in the toolbar

Dr. Nicolus B. Carter, Once in a Blue Moon, White Jag, <http://www.bcrescue.org/krakatau.html>

Katherain V. Kashman, Krakatau, World Book Encyclopedia, 2007

San Diego State University, Krakatau, Indonesia (1883) How volcanoes work,Department of geological sciences, <http://www.geology.sdsu.edu/how_volcanoes_work/Krakatau.html>

Smithsonian Institute, Natural Museum of Natural History, “The Global Volcanism Project” <http://www.volcano.si.edu/world/volcano.cfm?vnum=0602-00=>

Wild Land (powered by word press), “The 1883 Krakatau Eruption- A Colonial View” Wild Land- <http://wildland.owdjim.gen.nz/?p=437>

This is somewhat of an example of about one two-thousandth of Krakatau's power. Tee-hee.

World Map

This is a world map with Krakatau labeled with a line and an orange dot, and strange cartoon.