Tagged: nature

A volcano on Krakatoa is still erupting. Perhaps most famous for the powerfully explosive eruption in 1883 that killed tens of thousands of people, ash from a violent eruption might also have temporarily altered Earth’s climate as long as 1500 years ago. In 1927, eruptions caused smaller Anak Krakatau to rise from the sea, and the emerging volcanic island continues to grow at an average rate of 2 cm per day. The latest eruption of Anak Krakatau started in 2008 April and continues today. In this picture, Anak Krakatau is seen erupting from Rakata, the main island of the Krakatoai group. High above, stars including the Big Dipper are clearly apparent.

The pictures of volcanoes, especially during their eruptions, when clouds of volcanic dust shoot up in the sky, hiding the sun, and tons of burning magma burst from the crater to flow down the hill destroying everything on its way, are really magnificent. The mixture of danger, risk, and some primeval excitement – this is what you are likely to feel looking at the pictures of volcanoes we have prepared today.