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Krakatau volcano photos

Updated: May 16, 2024 20:36 GMT - refresh

Anak Krakatau came back to life in late October 2007, following a significant eruption in 1996 and a minor one in 2001. To document this extraordinary volcano, VolcanoDiscovery has been organizing many special expeditions to Krakatau since Nov 2007, where we spend 3-6 days on the island each. For those interested, expeditions can be arranged at fixed dates for small groups or for individuals at custom dates. Have a look at the Krakatau Special page.

Participant and team member Andrej Nikiforov witnessed the ongoing activity in Anak Krakatau's crater lake during the Krakatau Volcano Special tour in Nov 2019. Here some impressions: (Photo: AndreyNikiforov)

Krakatoa volcano, Nov 2019: eruptions from Anak Krakatau and impressions (40 Images)

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Krakatau volcano 19-23 Nov 2018

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We managed to arrive at Krakatau at the end of a very intense phase of activity between 17-19 Nov, which produced a new lava flow that reached the sea along a 150 m wide stretch on the southern shore of Anak Krakatau. At the time of our arrival, the effusion rate must have stopped just hours before at most, but the flow front was still active: (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer)

Krakatau volcano (Indonesia) Nov 2018 eruption: lava flow into the sea (25 Images)

Expedition organizer Galih observed the activity of the volcano during 12-16 Nov. It was characterized by strong ash emissions and occasional vulcanian-type explosions often accompanied by rare volcanic lightning: (Photo: Galih Jati)

Krakatau volcano (Indonesia): eruption Nov 2018 - volcanic lightnings (8 Images)

Krakatau volcano (Indonesia): Nov 2018 videos (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer)

Krakatau volcano (Indonesia): Nov 2018 videos (1 Image)

At the end of the paroxysm during 17-19 Nov, we spent several hours on the boat in about 700 m straight-line distance from the crater, to observe near-continuous explosive activity in the afternoon and evening of 19 Nov. It ranged from weak fountaining to mild to strong strombolian explosions with or without significant ash emissions: (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer)

Krakatau volcano (Indonesia) Nov 2018 eruption: continuous activity on 19 Nov (32 Images)

Our latest tour to Krakatau during 18-24 Nov rewarded participants with a night filled with fireworks, observed from a paradise beach. What a view! (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer)

Krakatau volcano (Indonesia) Nov 2018 eruption: a night on the beach (28 Images)

The activity observed on 19 Nov continued in a more or less similar way during 20 Nov, although the frequency of explosions had decreased to typically 30 seconds to 1-2 minutes. As the size of explosions observed during the 36 hours we had been on the island group did not exceed a certain threshold (ejecting bombs to the sea), a part of our group decided to take the calculated risk and spend some time on a favorable viewing spot behind the forest and near the shore of Anak Krakatau.
When eruptions eventually started to increase significantly, we left.
Disclaimer: visiting such spots during eruptive phases of Krakatau is very risky and you should be aware that no place on the island of Anak Krakatau is safe from bombs - unexpected large explosions can occur with no warning at any time. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer)

Krakatau volcano (Indonesia) Nov 2018 eruption: a magic night on the island (44 Images)

During 20-21 Nov, activity changes significantly: explosions became more rich in ash and contained much less and much less brighter lava bombs. As well, the intervals between individual events gradually increased overall, reaching up to about 2 hours by 22 Nov afternoon although phases of more frequent activity still occurred.
The most likely cause is that the magma column continued to drop internally and thus favored the formation of a more robust blockage, which in turn favored the occurrence of strong vulcanian-style explosions with less fresh incandescent material, but many fragments of the plug. This process is possibly helped at depth by water seeping into the walls of the conduit (so-called phreatomagmatic activity) as the interior pressure dropped.
Visible activity almost completely ceased during the night 22-23 Nov and picked up only again in the afternoon of 24 Nov, when we saw it from the volcano observatory on our way back. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer)

Krakatau volcano (Indonesia) Nov 2018 eruption: vulcanian activity (36 Images)

Various images taken between 20-23 Nov, showing various activity decreasing from very strong (20 Nov) to almost absent at the end of our stay (23 Nov). (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer)

Krakatau volcano (Indonesia) Nov 2018 eruption: miscellaneous (20 Images)

Krakatau volcano eruption Sep-Oct 2018

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Much of the activity of Krakatau we observed could be best described as mild to strong stormbolian activity always rich in ash, occurring at irregular intervals of few minutes to few tens of minutes: (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer)

Krakatau volcano: eruption Oct 2018 - strombolian activity (16 Images)

Our latest group on the Krakatau to Bali tour was lucky enough to catch the latest eruption of Krakatau in its full splendor. We present a small selection of photos taken by expedition leader Galih showing the spectacular strombolian activity from the summit crater.
If you're interested in visiting Krakatau with us, please check the Krakatau Volcano Special expedition page. (Photo: Galih Jati)

Krakatau volcano in eruption Sep 2018 - tour photos from our expedition leader Galih Jati (12 Images)

Photos of eruptions during our Oct 2018 tour to Krakatau by expedition organizer Galih (see also Krakatau Volcano Special): (Photo: Galih Jati)

Krakatau volcano - eruption Oct 2018 - Galih's photos (5 Images)

Ronny shared some of his photos from our recent expedition to Krakatau, showing the "normal" life during such a trip: (Photo: Ronny Quireyns)

Krakatau expedition Oct 2018 - Ronny's tour photos (24 Images)

On 17 Oct, explosions were particularly violent at Anak Krakatau. We show a series of images of a spectacular explosion captured from close range by boat. 2 months later, the cone of Anak Krakatau collapsed into the sea on the evening of 22 Dec 2018, triggering a catastrophic tsunami (more info).
Continued activity that accumulated more and more weight on the cone, built on top of a steep underwater slope in the SW (left in the images), and shaking by explosions like this might well have been the final trigger for that tragic event. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer)

Krakatoa volcano eruption Oct 2018: dangerous vulcanian explosion from close (24 Images)

Along with a small group, Tom Pfeiffer stayed on the island group during a Volcano Special tour from 13-19 Oct: the volcano's activity during this time fluctuated between phases of mild to strong ash venting along with occasional strombolian activity, as well as intermittent powerful vulcanian-type explosions. In this section, some impressions of the violent vulcanian explosions are shown: (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer)

Krakatau volcano: eruption Oct 2018 - vulcanian explosions and lightning (20 Images)

Along with a small group, Tom Pfeiffer stayed on the island group during a Volcano Special tour from 13-19 Oct: the volcano's activity during this time fluctuated between phases of mild to strong ash venting along with occasional strombolian activity, as well as intermittent powerful vulcanian-type explosions. Ash emissions, both passive and accompanied by strombolian to vulcanian explosions were often continuous: (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer)

Krakatau volcano: eruption Oct 2018 - ash venting (24 Images)

Along with a small group, Tom Pfeiffer stayed on the island group during a Volcano Special tour from 13-19 Oct. Some impressions from the volcano and the tour: (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer)

Krakatau volcano: eruption Oct 2018 - miscellaneous (32 Images)

Krakatau volcano July 2012

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Krakatau volcano (Indonesia): expedition July 2012 - Paul's photos (Photo: Paul Reichert)

Krakatau volcano (Indonesia): expedition July 2012 - Paul's photos (56 Images)

Extensive fumarole fields and large expanses of altered ground are found on the southern and western base of the main cone, especially in the valley between the low, pre-1990 crater rim and the cone. Here are some impressions taken in July during our expedition to Krakatau. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer)

Krakatau volcano (Indonesia) July 2012: fumarole fields (16 Images)

Impressions from our Krakatau volcano expedition in July 2012. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer)

Krakatau volcano (Indonesia) July 2012: expedition (34 Images)

Impressions from our Krakatau volcano expedition in July 2012.
Subpages: Fumarole fields | Expedition photos
(Photo: Tom Pfeiffer)

Krakatau volcano (Indonesia): Anak Krakatau in July 2012 (40 Images)

Krakatau volcano 2010

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Krakatau volcano eruption Nov 2010 - ash emission (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer)

Krakatau volcano eruption Nov 2010 - ash emission (31 Images)

Eruptions at the Krakatau volcano in November 2010. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer)

Krakatau volcano eruption Nov 2010 (30 Images)

Krakatau eruption 2009

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The principal activity observed in June was small to medium-sized strombolian activity, with frequent explosions from the new crater at intervals of 2-5 minutes, throwing incandescent blocks to several hundreds of meters height. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer)

Anak Krakatau eruption June 2009 - strombolian activity (24 Images)

After a 36 hrs pause in activity between the evening of 30 June and the morning of 2 July, Anak Krakatau started again with powerful vulcanian explosions. The largest of these explosions were preceded by an inflation and shaking of the active cone or lava dome, triggering rock-slides from its flanks, until the plug gave way in giant explosions ejecting a rapdly expanding mass of red-hot lava, solid rocks, and large amounts of ash, forming plumes of up to 2 km heights. See also this page. (Photo: Jorge Santos)

Anak Krakatau eruption July 2009: vulcanian explosions (16 Images)

Anak Krakatau eruption 2009 - ash eruptions & lightnings (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer)

Anak Krakatau eruption 2009 - ash eruptions & lightnings (16 Images)

Anak Krakatau eruption July 2009 - anatomy of an explosion (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer)

Anak Krakatau eruption July 2009 - anatomy of an explosion (20 Images)

A VolcanoDiscovery expedition spent 4 nights on Krakatau from 4-8 June and observed strong strombolian activity, often accompanied by loud blasts, from a new vent located between the old summit crater and the 2007 crater. This activity has essentially filled the 2007 crater with a new cinder cone and 'healed' the 2007 scar. At the time of leaving the island yesterday, activity was still going strong. Here are some first impressions from the tour as observed between 4-8 June 2009: (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer)

Anak Krakatau eruption June 2009: photos and impressons (24 Images)

Anak Krakatau eruption June 2009 - storm, thunder and lightning (c)

Anak Krakatau eruption June 2009 - storm, thunder and lightning (13 Images)

Hundreds of explosions have left their mark on Anak Krakatau. The slopes of the old crater and the upper forest area are dotted with impacts. The seismological sation and many trees have been destroyed. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer)

Anak Krakatau eruption July 2009 - destruction on Anak Krakatau (12 Images)

Anak Krakatau expedition 2009 - colors (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer)

Anak Krakatau expedition 2009 - colors (12 Images)

Krakatau volcano - eruption Nov 2007

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We decided to revisit Anak Krakatau in early July. Its activity of Anak Krakatau was still moderately strong, although individual explosions only occurred at intervals between 1-4 hrs. Generally, eruptions were more ash-rich than in November, these eruptions were rich in ash, with frequent small lightnings in the ash plumes that reached up to about 1 km height. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer)

Krakatau revisited: expedition July 2008 photos (52 Images)

Anak Krakatau eruption 2007: vulcanian activity (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer)

Anak Krakatau eruption 2007: vulcanian activity (32 Images)

Anak Krakatau eruption 2007: strombolian activity (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer)

Anak Krakatau eruption 2007: strombolian activity (31 Images)

Anak Krakatau eruption 2007: details (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer)

Anak Krakatau eruption 2007: details (42 Images)

The most frequent type of activity was ash venting, occuring at intervals of typically 2 minutes, but the resulting plumes were relatively low ash clouds. Some of the more powerful explosions produced tall plumes of over 1 km height. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer)

Anak Krakatau eruption 2007: mostly ash - ash venting and powerful ash plumes (22 Images)

Anak Krakatau eruption 2007 - expedition photos (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer)

Anak Krakatau eruption 2007 - expedition photos (44 Images)

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