In 1883, Krakatoa, a small volcanic island in Indonesia, erupted with such force that it destroyed most of itself—and made history. The explosion was one of the loudest sounds ever recorded, heard over 3,000 miles away. 

Shockwaves circled the Earth, and tsunamis over 130 feet high devastated coastal towns, killing more than 36,000 people.

But the eruption didn’t stop at sound and destruction. Ash and gas filled the atmosphere, creating fiery red sunsets around the globe and dropping global temperatures by more than a degree. Some believe these eerie skies even inspired Edvard Munch’s The Scream.

Out of the ruins, a new volcano rose: Anak Krakatoa, or "Child of Krakatoa"—still active today. The event forever changed how scientists study volcanoes and reminded the world of nature’s power to reshape sky, sea, and land.