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Volcanoes are a fascinating species. They are usually huge and quiet and suddenly can become very grumpy. That’s when they start to spit out smoke and ashes. But when they really are in a bad mood – all hell can break lose.

There were plenty of Volcano warnings recently in Indonesia, with Mount Kelut on Java getting the most media attention. He is in a densely populated area and the latest breakout was only as recent as 1990. Over the years Mount Kelut has claimed more than 15.000 lifes. Just yesterday when the Volcano Alert Status for Mount Kelut was downgraded from ‘breaking out any time’ to ‘breakout likely’; another Volcano spoke out once again with a big roar:

The Child of Krakatoa

‘Anak Krakatau’ or the Child of Krakatoa are the remains of one of the most powerful eruption earth has experienced in its recent times. It’s located between the huge Indonesian Islands of Sumatra and Java in the Sunda Strait, sitting right on the so-called ‘Ring of Fire‘.

The eruption of Krakatoa in 1883 was so powerful, that it was felt almost around the world. About 36.000 people were killed by pyroclastic flows, hot volcanic ashes – which can form a kind of cement in your lungs when inhaled – and huge resulting Tsunamis.

Two thirds of the island of Krakatoa were destroyed or blown into oblivion; leaving only an empty Caldera, which was soon filled with water of the surrounding ocean of the Sunda Strait. Further eruptions at the volcano since 1927 have built a new island in the same location, called Anak Krakatau (child of Krakatoa).

Are you up for a rough hike?

So far Krakatoa’s Child was quiet, you could even go there and climb the remains of the Volcano; as I did in 11/2005 with Tobias, a good friend of mine.

Can you imagine 2 Caucasians climbing a Volcano on a bright, cloudless day at 1pm during temperatures of about 35 degrees Celsius? Our local guide really was speechless about those 2 ‘bule gila’ (crazy foreigners), but he didn’t mind earning his fees, so off we went.

As expected it was a tough hike. The whole mountain was only about 900 meters high at that time, but the steep climb and the merciless heat were a real show stopper.

Thus it came that our guide and me rested at the ‘Base Camp’ at about half of the climb, while Tobias made it all the way to the top. Here even breathing was very difficult, as sulphuric and other acidic gases were expelled all the time.

Recent eruption

It seems that over the last few months minor eruptions have even formed a new island in the middle of the old Caldera of Krakatoa. Since yesterday the mountain seems to be erupted once again.

I saw the first reports yesterday on NowPublic, later on Fox News online (from where I borrowed the above picture), but CNN Asia had a short report on TV this morning as well.

Let’s see, if further pictures or even Videos of the latest eruption emerge soon…

*** Update ***

The ‘Bali Pos’ (local newspaper in Bali, written in Bahasa Indonesia) had today an article about the ongoing eruption, including a recent picture on their front page. They were talking about 800 meter high ash clouds and heavy lava flows as well.

The same picture can be found on the website of ‘Bali Post‘, but I can’t say for sure, if the two are related, as the layout of the site is completely different to the print edition and the spelling (POST with or without ‘T”) is different.

To the right is the recent eruption picture they published on the site. ->

Even though the image quality isn’t that great, the eruption certainly looks impressive, doesn’t it?

Technorati : anak krakatau, java, kelut, krakatau, krakatoa, mount kelut, ring of fire, sumatra, sunda strait, volcano, volcanoes

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written by Chris