Volcano Journal Entry

Anak Krakatau Keeps Erupting (May 1, 2008)

Indonesia's Anak Krakatau volcano keeps on erupting. The volcano, which lies in the Sunda Strait between Java and Sumatra, blasted out thick plumes of ash and hot, glowing rocks. Loud booms from the eruption were heard at observation stations 25 miles (40 km) from the volcano.

The ground around the volcano's summit shook from scores of small earthquakes, a sign magma is rising inside the volcano. The alert level was raised to 3 (on a 1 to 4 scale) after the new activity.

In 1883, the nearby Krakatau volcano exploded violently in the Sunda Strait. It was biggest explosion in recorded history. Anak Krakatau or "Child of Krakatau" formed close to the "parent" volcano from eruptions in the years after that massive blast.

Amazingly, the sound of the 1883 explosion could be heard up to 2,000 miles (3,000 km) away in Australia. The blast triggered a deadly tsunami with monstrous waves of 130 feet (40 meters). The tsunami leveled 165 villages and killed 36,000 people. The eruption destroyed about two-thirds of the island of Krakatau.