Anak Krakatau: The Resurrecting Island
Wed, Jan 28, 2009
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Image by NASA
What’s worse than an island that experiences the most violent volcanic explosion on record? Perhaps the same island rising again in the same place that may have the same reaction. Anak Krakatau, one of 130 active volcanoes in the Phillipines, is an island that lies between Java and Sumatra. The island’s name means the “son of Krakatoa.” In 1883, it’s parent experienced a volcanic eruption that remains registered as the loudest explosion on record (heard from as far as Australia). Other casualties resulting from this episode included tsunamis that reached as far a South Africa and estimated death tolls of over 120,000 people.
Image by flydime
Although Krakatoa submerged after several eruptions, Anak Krakatau resurfaced in 1927. New volcanic activity caused the island to sink again only a few months later. Emerging again in 1930, it has remained above sea level ever since. Despite these incidents, the fertile volcanic ash and soil has resulted in Anak Krakatau being the home to over 500 species of plants and animal life. These animals include butterflies, birds, land mollusks, bats and reptiles. The ability for wildlife to thrive under such volatile circumstances has drawn the attention of much scientific research. Scientists, who have studied how species develop on island ecosystems, have witnessed buried seed banks and periodic extinctions.
Image via Mongabay
Most scientists have deemed another disaster inevitable. While the high numbers of tourists that visit yearly are continuously threatened, scientists try to collect as much information as possible before the island submerges. Due to a plan by the Indonesian government to mine the island of it’s soil and sand, Anak Krakatau may not resurface for some time. So if you’re feeling brave and desire to witness the death of an island, hurry and book your plane tickets. Don’t forget to bring a friend; or better yet an enemy.
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“The only true currency in this bankrupt world is what you share with someone else.”
February 2nd, 2009 at 12:07 am
“Anak Krakatau, one of 130 active volcanoes in the Phillipines, is an island that lies between Java and Sumatra.” – Java, Sumatra and Anak Krakatau are all in Indonesia.
February 8th, 2009 at 6:14 am
The four bellipax articles were excellect readings. I learned useful information, while at the same time having fun.
This writer is very knowledgable and is able to communicate his knowledge in an exciting manner. I look forward to reading more of his works.
Have a great day.
Dr. Haddox
February 8th, 2009 at 8:59 pm
This is a very interestng article. It is amazing how such fragile forms of life can survive in such harsh conditions. Great article. I’m looking forward to reading your next article.
May 30th, 2009 at 8:43 am
It’s not in Philippine… Anak Krakatau is in Indonesia
June 13th, 2009 at 4:56 pm
Couple of points as someone who has studied Krakatau in depth:
Neither Java nor Sumatra are in the Phillipines, they are in Indonesia, whose capital, Jakarta, is on Java. Hence Krakatau, which is between the two, is in Indonesia.
Casualties were not 120,000 – there were 36,400.
Further point, Tom Simkin (co-writer of Krakatau 1883: the eruption and its effects, former Director of Volcanology at the Smithsonian, unfortunately recently deceased) demonstrated a relationship between the scale of eruptions and the time between them, basically down to the rate of filling of the magma chamber and by that it will be quite a while before the next major Krakatau eruption. The one before 1883 was possibly in the fifth or sixth century AD. There was one in 1680, but it was trivial.
July 30th, 2009 at 4:51 pm
As far as I know, “Anak Krakatau” is located in Indonesia rather in the Phillippines if it is an island that lies between Java and Sumatra. The name of the island meaning“son of Krakatoa”sounds like Tagalog though. Would you check with it more thoroughly for accuracy?