Anak Krakatau Volcano, Sunda Strait, Indonesia
10 June 2011

Note: The area of coverage in this WORLDVIEW-2 image is approximately 2.5 km x 2.5 km.
The reduced resolution image on display has undergone compression and so does not represent the true resolution of the original satellite image.

The top of the volcano, Anak Krakatau (child of Krakatau), emerged as an island in the Sunda Strait years after its huge predecessor, Krakatau, blew itself up catastrophically in 1883. Anak Krakatau has an inner and outer crater and is regularly active. Past eruptions have removed all vegetation from the western side of the island. Towards the northeast, a bulging pyroclastic flow has destroyed scattered low trees and shrubs before reaching the sea. Pioneering vegetation reestablishes itself periodically between passages of such flows from the crater. The western side of the island is steep and bare, and the coast is washed by pounding surf. The eastern side has a shelving beach where visitors may land. Two small boats are visible. The sea around Anak Krakatau, a long distance from both Java and Sumatra, is pristine, volcanic material being washed into the coastal water only in two places.