History’s Most Destructive Volcanic Eruption

The shockwave it created travelled over 3 times around the globe

A painting depicting the 1883 eruption of Krakatoa, 1888. Source: Wikicommons

Modern technology has allowed humans to harness the explosive power of many elements our ancestors did not have access to. Through this evolution in warfare, our bombs have gotten bigger and more destructive. Our most advanced bombs can now take out entire regions, a feat unthinkable to warfare strategists a few hundred years ago.

Although humanity has managed to harness such power, our advancements are dwarfed by the power of nature. This is undoubtedly proven by the sheer power demonstrated by history’s most destructive volcanic eruption.

The power of nature

The movement of the Earth’s tectonic plates is one of the most powerful events we can experience without leaving the planet. This phenomenon is so powerful that over time it moves entire continents. Their movement also leads to the creation of chasms and volcanoes with the latter being one of the deadliest landforms the Earth can create.

The Sunda strait (top) and the location of Krakatoa within the strait (bottom). Source: Google Earth

A single mega volcano eruption could send us into a nuclear winter from which we may not…