Already with the entry into the 7 km wide Krakatau caldera you ask
yourself the question what enormously eruptive activity had happened
approx. 126 years ago. It’s hardly to believe that already the 4
kilometres long sea-distance between the Anak volcano and the
remnant Rakarta was till the August 1893 actually an
union of three volcanos.
The eruption
with the strength (VEI 6) was recorded as the second largest of the
modern times. Evenly 18 km³ ashes and rock were blown into the
atmosphere. The ash column moved between a 50 to 80 km height.
Imagine, that three islands with a lenght diameter of 6 km
disappeared completely (Rakata to the half) and the 'free space' was
overflowed directly by enormous water quantities in the km³-class.
The result of this violent reaction with the magma, might probably
quite strain our imaginative power in the sense of the enormous
dimension.
For instance, the global temperature went even on the Northern
Hemisphere around 1°C downward, and the entire Indonesian area got
attuned to the equatorial 24 hours night. Even in Europe the sky
changed intensively red. Edvard Munch represented this discoloration
of the atmosphere in its famous painting “Cry”.
(Cannot be shown for reasons of the copyright)
Whether the
version “cry” was orginated 1893 or 1910 is disputed. As
incontroversal was considered, that a version of the picture in the
Oslo National Gallery originates from the year 1893. Munch had
painted the picture due to a terrible nature experience.
Source: VADIAN.NET, St.Gallen
The active
volcano island Anak Krakatau, with our positions.
North-South
distance on the island about 2,3 Km.
Photo credit by
NASA
1930 the Anak Krakatau (child of Krakatau) penetrated finally
through the sea level and poured in the midst of the 7 km wide
caldera a cinder cone of a height of approx. 390 - 450 meters
(variable). The volcanic island Anak Krakatau is valid until today
as continuous active and formed an island with a diameter of ca.
2,3
km.
After “recently” everything was blown
up
into the air, you have to be content with the remainders of the
Krakatau. Thus we landed at the 1.Juni 2009 with the rubber boat
technology on the island Rakata. On this paradise mangrove-like
beach plants and an amply jungle are dominating the flora of the
island. Immediately after
the
start-up of the beach kitchen, curious monitor lizards up to 1.5
meters between pots and other kitchen accessories could be observed.
Even in the
close camping tents some exemplars were already sighted and treated
accordingly like unsolicited guests, - i.e. the throw out
ceremony
took place
‚stante pede' by
flying a nice arc ...
tb
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Voluminous the first eruption noise of the Anak sound was
amplified in the
amphie
- round of the Rakata
island.
The evening began and the first red lava fontains
did
accompanied the ash clouds. In the presence of the coming up moon
the scenery becomes with the increasing darkness phenomenal. We were
lucky because of the daily thunderstorms the air was cleaned to its
most clearness.
GIF
and Video
tb
On the next day we moved with our luxurious cutter ‚Royal' to the
Anak volcano as close as possible. In a distance of may one
kilometre we let drift ourselves in the moderate swell close to the
island.
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The eruptions show also by daylight the glowing-red lava shreds
which roughly reached the size of minibuses. Between
them, the
so called cinder spears which
left
with an immensely
high speed the 120 meter wide crater opening. The high internal
pressure in the volcano was often approved by an ear deafening bang.
However, detonation waves could not be observed.
tb
mr
In the late afternoon we tried the landing on the Anak Island. Due
to the rough sea a tingling act began.
Already
the attempt landing in the see-surf did cost some photographers the
whole
camera equipment
if they forgot
the waterproof packing.
Due
to the strong
shark fish appearance,
and since
I watched the movie
‘Open Water', a capsize
was generally unwanted
:-(( ...
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With extra greetings the volcano expected us. Hardly
ten steps gone, the volcano performed a violent explosion noise in
the crater and the ejections were catapulted over the whole island.
A
two meter sized red
glowing lava shred
which was
coming from an altitude
of
approx. 800 meter could not be specified in its flight direction and
it was not possible to destine the point of impact
a short time before.
Hissing and fearsome this shred impacted with a dull noise into the
old lava field about 30 meters before us. Well,
dire
prospects for the next night
:-( , may
I take the rubber boat again back? Nevertheless, during the
following
night
smaller bombs flew
in the
closer periphery of our
observation point,
but such a strong eruption was luckily missed. The volcano wanted to
give us initially
an
directly to understand: „YES I CAN".
A
small lava cave made the point of observation somewhat safer, and
beside that it took nearly 30 seconds that the glowing boulders hit
us finally.
tb
The late afternoon showed us more eruptions. Inside the ash cloud,
the fine ash dust was producing vertical tires, which probably
worked like generators. Therefore by the possibility of
thunderstorms the already crackling air may forced lightning flashes
which considerable reached a high brightness. Thereupon an enormous
thunderstorm followed, which fallow over the whole archipelago. With
vehement thunders, some flashes unloaded themselves in next
proximity. Consequentially, you could not divide the acoustic chaos
any longer. Everywhere it roared and thundered,
and between the interactions of these fundamental forces of nature I
agnized myself, as absolutely unimportant ….
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Light
impressions
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The thunderstorm ended and the eruption noises gradually dominated
again impressing. Now the effective volcano feeling began finally.
Bus-large lava shreds were shown up over the crater opening. The
entire cone was partly covered. Large lava bombs rolled
down or
shattered at the slopes and littered themselves widely. The dawn
began and the color spectacle took its run. Minute by minute the
total color palette changed and brought again and again new light
impressions to the appearance. Some ejectas reached temporarily the
sea.
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The further day and the night permitted only few possibilities for
photographing. Misty conditions and bad weather let us creep finally
earlier into the sleeping bags, what means
that after two sleepless photo nights this recreation does suited
the plans for every one. In addition to the detail photographing, we
wanted to spend the last night on Anak again.
When we changed the location into the eastern forest area, first
impressing impact craters were to be recognized here. A longer fire
break let permitted us a view from the east - rim of the now very
enormously appearing cone. After this position brought a general
indisposition to every one and gave no photographic innovations, we
turned back again toward forest. Each meter away of the volcano
affected somehow a redemptive feeling.
Arriving at the edge of forest, the Anak showed us
again
its enormous power.
Due to the most strongly eruption of the day, some shreds of several
meters were ejected like flat spears in an unbelievable speed,
crossing over the half island, and hit down partially far over our
previous position.
tb
This event on the rim would have left
in any case an enormously prickling impression…, however I was
somehow completely glad, to aware in this moment the more safer
distance to the volcano.
This
morning the volcano was squaring to its best, which is to be
recognized also by the recording of the seismology?
Martin! Thank
U very much indeed for the organisation.