People say that the eruption of Krakatoa It was one of the most shocking natural disasters in our history. We are sure that you would also like to have a time machine to see this eruption live, to get, without suffering any damage, to witness one of the most devastating and incredible phenomena of which you have memory and records.
This powerful volcano claimed thousands of lives that were directly victims of exposure to the volcanic eruption or the tsunamis that followed it. The natural phenomenon of Krakatoa was of such intensity that it even affected the climate and made its impact felt all over the world, causing a global drop in temperatures. Discover more than one of the volcanic tragedies that marked modern history.
The Krakatoa, one of the most terrible eruptions in history
The island Krakatoa had about 9 kilometers long and was located, along with more islets, between Java and Sumatra. It was never very peaceful "geologically" speaking, its land was governed by three volcanic cones that erupted on numerous occasions, until on August 26, 1883 the disaster began.
They died more than 31,000 people and razed about 163 populations , an explosion so intense, that came to feel in 10% of our planet. In fact, the legend says that the axis of the Earth changed and that many islands moved up to 30 meters from their original position. However, even more shocking things happened that are registered and that we will go on to detail next.
History of activity of the volcano of the island Krakatoa
Only by pronouncing his name were we impressed: Krakatoa. It was an exotic island where those three volcanic cones rose that the natives, knew as Rakata (of 823 meters), Danan (of 445 meters), and Perboewatan (of 122 meters). The three cones belonged to the own Krakatoa volcano that was, almost strategically, on the Eurasian and Indo-Australian plates.
In the popular legend of Java there were several stories, which already spoke of ancient eruptions, how roared the mountain of Krakatoa and how the world trembled with terror. Disasters that took the lives of hundreds of people, natural events that, for example and according to these legends, caused Java and Sumatra to be divided into two parts.
Experts date these previous eruptions in the years 417 a. C. and in 535 d. C . However, the worst of all, the most devastating, occurred in 1833. Already in the previous years there had been enough activity, tremors, explosions ... But it was in May of that same year when the natives feared the worst. On the 20th of that month, gas leaks began in the north of the island and in one of the cones of the volcano, specifically, in Perboewatan The ash eruptions reached 6,000 meters and could be seen from the neighboring islands.
We do not know if there were any evacuation measures, although in reality they would not have been very useful, since no one could guess the terrible extent of the Krakatoa explosion.
The consequences of the eruption of Krakatoa
- August 27, 1883. A cataclysmic explosion causes the island itself to disappear into pieces. Instantly. The sky was tinged with blood and the fire caressed the atmosphere like an angry demon, coming out of the bowels of the Earth. Although, little by little, the darkness was coming. It is known that the suspension of these ashes lasted almost two years, originating strange optical phenomena throughout the world.
- The impact of the explosion of the Krakatoa originated in turn numerous tsunamis , with 40 meters high waves , and cones of ashes that brushed almost 80 kilometers of altitude. An unimaginable cataclysm that many dare to compare not only with the atomic bomb of Hiroshima, but with 7,000 of them. The almost 200 megatons that were released that day caused the whole planet to sink for three days, in a soft twilight, where the dawn was eternal.
- An atmosphere of strangeness and amber, generated by the refraction of the sun's rays against those tiny particles. Moreover, meteorologists tell us that due to this phenomenon of suspended ash, the temperature of the planet decreased 1.2 ° Celsius and even the precipitation index fell, recovering its normality three years later.
- Another fact that gives us chills is sound. It is said that the rumble of Krakatoa when exploding, is the highest recorded sound in history. Your number? The 180 dB was exceeded. There is even a legend that says that sailors who were 50 kilometers away, were deaf. Amazing.
Stories of Krakatoa
Unfortunately, most catastrophes are accompanied by incredible stories that often feed fiction such as novels, movies ... All of them trying to reflect the horror, humanity and even the importance of luck in such exceptional circumstances as it may be to face the eruption from a volcano as powerful as Krakatoa.
One of the stories that circulated after the tragedy and that apparently was considered true at the time, was that of a German, director of a mining company, who was on the roof of the third floor of a building where he had his office, when a wave caused by the eruption engulfed him. In the water he saw a big crocodile He was also dragged by the current and did not hesitate, he clung to him with all his strength. With his fingers he reached the eye cavities of the beast. The crocodile swam to the mainland with the exhausted German on his back and in the middle of the jungle, he scrambled to abandon his passenger and leave.
An amazing story, as well as the one recorded by the Captain of the ship Norham Castle that was far from Krakatoa, almost 70 kilometers. The distance did not prevent them from hearing the eruption, the captain wrote in his diary: "The explosions were so strong that the eardrums of half of my crew burst . My last thoughts are for my beloved wife. I am sure that this is the Day of Judgment has come. "
Also those who worked in the interior of the islands near the volcano felt their fury. A farmer who was almost 10 kilometers to the interior of the island of Java explained the tsunami caused by the eruption:
"Suddenly we heard a very loud sound. We saw ... a huge black thing, very far away, that was coming towards us. It was very tall and powerful, and soon we saw what it was: water. Trees and houses were razed ... People began to ... run for their lives. Not far away there was an area of sloping land and we all ran to try to climb it, to get out of reach of the water. The water was too fast for most, and many drowned practically by my side. Many tried to climb into a concrete location. That caused a pile up, there was great violence for a few moments but ... One after another they were swallowed and dragged by the waters. If you look you will see the marks on the hill, In the place where they fought. Some ... dragged others into the water with them. They did not let them go, those at the top could not get out of their deadly grip. "
The effect of the Karakatoa could be verified all over the world, not only because of the temperature, but also because the sunsets dyed it red. Something that lasted up to three years. Such unusual coloration inspired artists like the poet Gerard Manley Hopkins who said of these images: "More like burning flesh than like the intense red of the common sunsets; that is what disturbs everyone; it has been prolonged during the day, and optically changed the station; it bathes all the sky; It could be confused with the reflection of a big bonfire. "
We finish this article with other information that will also surprise you. In 1927 new volcanic eruptions began at the bottom of the sea, new movements, new omens that something was still alive in the depths ... A few months later, a new island emerged that was called Anak Krakatau ('Son of Krakatoa'). No one lives in it, since as geologists say, it is very likely that in the future the voice of the Krakatoa will roar with the same intensity. When? We do not know.
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Image: National Library of Esp , Fotorus , Tom Pfeiffer