The 1883 eruption of Krakatoa destroyed much of the Indonesian volcanic island and produced global atmospheric effects.
Krakatoa, also spelled Krakatau, lay in the Sunda Strait between Java and Sumatra. A series of eruptions began in May 1883, climaxing on August 27 when the volcano collapsed in enormous explosions. Much of the island disappeared and a caldera formed beneath the sea.
The eruption generated devastating tsunamis, with waves reaching coastal settlements around the Sunda Strait. More than 36,000 deaths were reported, most caused by tsunamis rather than hot ash or lava. The sound of the largest explosion was heard thousands of kilometers away.
Fine volcanic aerosols entered the stratosphere and affected sunlight and atmospheric colors around the world. Paintings and observations from the following months recorded unusually vivid red sunsets. A new volcanic island, Anak Krakatau, later emerged from the caldera and became active in the 20th and 21st centuries.