General Information of Krakatau

To anyone who interest in natural processes, Krakatau is one of the most fascinating areas in the world. The cataclysmic eruption of 1883 captures the imagination, and spectacular volcanic activity continues to the present. To those interested by plants and animals  not only the islands from which life was eradicated by the 1883 eruption, but also the new island of Anak Krakatau the area holods a unique attraction.
The Krakatau islands are part of the Ujung Kulon National. This park also includes the famous Ujung Kulon wilderness area on the western most peninsula of Javan Rhineceros Both area area administered by the Indonesian government. Access to them is controlled by the PHPA, (Forest Protection and Nature Conservation), and permits must be obtained prior to any visit. There is now a PHPA post on one of the Krakatau islands (Sertung). But now the since the new regulation gone into effect of area autonomy by Indonesia government, that area inclusive into Lampung (South Sumatra) so all management and controlled now by Lampung Province.
To climb to the top of Anak Krakatau is prohibited for all visitor, but we can climb until first top (no crater). Visit to Krakatau Islands usually weather in good condition on April ~ September.

VOLCANIC HISTORY
The three outer island of the present Krakatau group (Rakata, Sertung and Panjang), are thought to be the remnants of one previous, huge volcanic islands. Called “Ancient Krakatau”, it was some 11 km in diameter and 2 km high. According to records in the Javanese Book of King it exploded and collapsed, perhaps in prehistoric times but possibly as rencently as 416 AD. Three islands remained on the rim of its submerged, 7 km diameter, central caldera (collapsed crater). The southern most of these, Rakata grew by volcanic activity until it was about 830 m high and 5 km diameter. Two smaller volcanic island, Danan 450m) and Perbuatan (120m), then developed in line and to its north, within the ancient caldera. The three islands later joined up into one, Krakatau between the 9th and the 16th centuries. By the nineteenth century it was regarded as dormant.
Forty years after the main explosion, in 1927, volcanic activity was seen in the area covering the old caldera, between the sites of the two northern-most former volcanoes of Krakatau, where the greatest activity had occurred at the time of the cataclysm. A series of eruptions 185m below the surface of the sea resulted in the emergence of three new islands, one after the other. They were all soon destroyed by surf. A fourth emerged from the sea on August 12th 1930. it remained above water, and was aptly named Anak Krakatau (Child of Krakatau). It grew the accumulation of ash, and suffered a devastating eruption in 1952, it its now vegetated ; the succession of vegetation is still at an early stage, Casuarina Equisetifolia (Cemara) being the dominant tree.