Anak Krakatoa

Anak Krakatoa is a volcanic island in the Sunda Strait, Lampung province, Indonesia, that emerged from the Krakatoa caldera in 1927 and has been intermittently active since. It occupies a position between the islands of Java and Sumatra and is part of the Sunda volcanic arc.

The island is a steep volcanic cone with frequently changing shorelines and active vents; it is typically observed from boats or aircraft rather than visited on foot due to unstable terrain and ongoing risk. A major eruptive event and partial flank collapse in December 2018 produced a tsunami in the surrounding coastlines and significantly altered the island’s summit and coastline.

Anak Krakatoa arose from the sea after the catastrophic 1883 eruption of Krakatoa and has been a site of repeated eruptive episodes through the 20th and 21st centuries, building and sometimes losing volcanic mass in successive eruptions. Monitoring by Indonesian volcanic authorities remains active due to its persistent activity.

The island sits in the Sunda Strait between Java and Sumatra in western Indonesia; the nearest large administrative centre is Bandar Lampung on Sumatra’s southern coast, and access is normally by boat from nearby ports.

• Access and safety: The island is active and conditions change rapidly; close approaches by boat are sometimes prohibited for safety following eruptive activity.
• Origins: Formed within the caldera produced by the 1883 Krakatoa eruption, it rose above sea level and has been growing intermittently since its first emergence in 1927.