Volcanoes!!

According to the CIA's World Factbook entry for Indonesia, the country of 17,000+ islands is the world's home to the largest number of volcanoes.  A couple of the more historically well known volcanoes include Krakatoa and and Mount Tambora.

Krakatoa is considered to have been the most violent volcanic eruption in recorded history; its 1883 eruption is beleved to have caused the destruction or severe damage to over 300 communities and left over 36,000 people dead--the blast is reported to have been heard, even if only faintly, some 2000 miles away.

1888 lithograph of Krakatoa's explosion

Mount Tambora erupted in 1815 and is considered to have had the most far reaching impact of any other volcano in recorded history.  The ecological impact of Tambora created a phenomenon called the "volcanic winter" within the northern hemisphere.  Known as "the year without summer", North America and Europe experienced significant agricultural crop failure and death of livestock leading to one of the worst famines in history in 1816.


Areal view of the caldera of Mt. Tambora.

During my trip to Bandung, Indonesia next month I will have the opportunity to visit a volcano on the outskirts of the city.  Tangkuban Perahu is home to a host of hot springs (some near the boiling point) where visitors are often invited to boil their own eggs there at the volcano itself.  I'm excited for the opportunity to roam a road that is rather remote from an American (or at least Oklahoman) perspective.  I'm looking forward to it!

Tangkuban Perahu outside of Bandung, Indonesia