temptourist

Indonesia, 1883. One island, an extraordinary explosion, and a sound that travelled farther than anyone would reasonably expect.

On 27 August 1883, Krakatoa erupted with such violence that people thousands of kilometres away thought they were hearing artillery fire.

They weren't. They were hearing a volcano in what is now Indonesia.

The world's least discreet eruption

The explosions were heard in parts of Australia and on Mauritius, more than 4,600 kilometres from Krakatoa.

The atmospheric pressure waves travelled around the planet several times, leaving measurable traces on instruments far beyond the eruption itself.

For an event without radio, television or the internet, Krakatoa was remarkably successful at making international news.

The sound was only the beginning

The eruption destroyed much of the volcanic island and generated devastating tsunamis that struck nearby coastlines.

More than 36,000 people died, overwhelmingly as a result of the tsunamis.

Ash and gases entered the atmosphere, affecting skies and temperatures far beyond Indonesia. The eruption's influence could be seen in extraordinary sunsets around the world.

Krakatoa had managed to make itself both heard and seen on a global scale.

An island with an afterlife

The story didn't end in 1883.

In 1927, a new volcanic island began emerging from the sea in the same volcanic complex. It became known as Anak Krakatau — Child of Krakatoa.

The original island had been largely destroyed. The volcanic system was still very much in business.

The souvenir: Our Krakatoa design takes its cue from an event whose reputation travelled considerably farther than the island itself.

Some destinations make an impression. Krakatoa made a pressure wave.