31. Building Up to a Dramatic Climax
Krakatoa kept acting up for a week, then quieted. Then it began acting up again in mid June, 1883, with a thick black cloud that covered the area for a week as the volcano erupted periodically. Ash was emitted, and pumice was thrown up, landing hundreds of miles away in the Indian Ocean. Tidal activity increased, forcing ships to moor with strong chains to resist the tide’s suddenly strong ebb and flow. By early August, a desolate and abandoned Krakatoa was covered by nearly two feet of ash, and all vegetation had died, leaving only tree stumps.
The final act started early in the afternoon of August 26th. By 2 PM, explosions were heard every ten minutes or so, and Krakatoa had spewed a 20-mile-high ash cloud that was visible from far away. Ships up to twelve miles away reported a heavy ash fall, accompanied by bits of pumice up to four inches wide.