Krakatau Mountain Volcanic

Krakatoa or Krakatau or Krakatao is a volcanic island in the Sunda Strait between Java and Sumatra in Indonesia.












The name is used for the island group, the main island (also called Rakata), and the volcano as a whole. It has erupted repeatedly, massively, and with disastrous consequences throughout recorded history.








The best known eruption culminated in a series of massive explosions on August 26-27 1883, which was among the most violent volcanic events in modern times. With a Volcanic Explosivity Index of 6, it was equivalent to 200 megatons of TNT — about 13,000 times the yield of the Little Boy bomb (13 to 16 KT), which devastated Hiroshima, Japan.








The 1883 eruption ejected more than 25 cubic kilometres of rock, ash, and pumice, near and generated the loudest sound historically reported: the cataclysmic explosion was distinctly heard as far away as Perth in Australia approx. 1,930 miles (3,110 km), and the island of Rodrigues Mauritius approx. 3,000 miles (5,000 km).







Near Krakatoa, according to official records, 165 villages and towns were destroyed and 132 seriously damaged, at least 36,417 (official toll) people died, and many thousands were injured by the eruption, mostly from the tsunamis which followed the explosion.








The eruption destroyed two thirds of the island of Krakatoa. Eruptions at the volcano since 1927 have built a new island in the same location, called Anak Krakatau (child of Krakatoa).

Merapi Mountain Volcano

Of the 130 active volcanoes in Indonesia, Merapi is the most active, and has had at least twelve eruptions that killed people. The name Merapi means "Mountain of Fire". The volcano is considered sacred and every year a priest climbs to the top to make an offering








High 2968 meters, it is located 25 km north of Yogyakarta.
The mountain erupts about once every 5.5 years and has killed as many as 1,600 people in 26 eruptions since 1930.








The major eruption was on 22 November 1994, at 10.15 hrs local time. A flow containing 220°C burst of gas, steam, and ashes killed more than 80 people. More than 1.3 million cubic yard of lava pour six kilometres down the mountainside along the river Boyong in Turgo village.









On March 19, 2006 some explosions are recorded which could announce a regain in the Merapi volcanic activity. The mountain was put on alert, but for the time being the eruptions are considered as small. The picture here above is the Merapi view on Sunday 20th, from the village of Cangkringan.








As you may have heard, Merapi is fixing to erupt sometime soon. People who live on the mountain - and there are thousands of them, mostly scattered in farming villages - have a whole set of traditional beliefs centered around the existence of a spiritual kingdom atop the volcano. When the volcano erupts, it's because the spirits are having a big party or ceremony. Villagers believe if they take good care of the mountain and are respectful toward its god, they'll be okay.