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Volcanoes in Eruption - Set 2

The word "volcano" is used to refer to the opening from which molten rock and gas issue from Earth's interior onto the surface, and also to the cone, hill, or mountain built up around the opening by the eruptive products. This slide set depicts ash clouds, fire fountains, lava flows, spatter cones, glowing avalanches, and steam eruptions from 18 volcanoes in 13 countries. Volcano types include strato, cinder cone, basaltic shield, complex, and island-forming.

Krakatau, Indonesia

Krakatau, Indonesia;6.10 S 105.42 E;813 m elevation
Krakatau is located in the Sunda Strait, between Sumatra and Java. It is famous for its devastating 1883 eruption, one of the largest in history. Explosions were heard more than 4000 km away and atmospheric effects were recorded around the world. The emitted ash and pumice blocks totaled 18 km3 and the 6-km-diameter caldera collapsed. Tsunamis that reached heights of 40 m height killed 36,000 people on the low shores of Java and Sumatra. This drawing shows the ash cloud from the 1883 eruption. Photo credit: P. Hedervari, National Geophysical Data Center

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