What was the largest explosion in the history of civilization?

gonnzo

Deliberate. "Tsar Bomba...the largest, most powerful nuclear weapon ever detonated....Blast yield 50 megatons of TNT" http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tsar_Bomba Accidental. "The Halifax Explosion occurred on Thursday, December 6, 1917,...This is still the world's largest man-made accidental explosion....equivalent to roughly 3 kilotons of TNT." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halifax_Explosion Nature. Probably Krakatoa. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Krakatoa Elsewhere. "The largest explosion ever seen in space reveals black holes to be more influential than expected, perhaps sometimes stifling star formation in a galaxy while gobbling up trillions upon trillions of tons of gas. The eruption has been ongoing for some 100 million years, astronomers said Wednesday. The outburst is orchestrated by a supermassive black hole that anchors a distant galaxy sitting amid a tight cluster of galaxies. The black hole has blown two huge bubbles into the galaxy, shoving aside a colossal amount of gas equal to the mass of a trillion Suns, or more than all the stars of our own Milky Way Galaxy. " http://www.space.com/scienceastronomy/big_explosion_050105.html Sep 05 09, 7:24 PM

star_gazer

The following is an awesome video clip: http://www.sonicbomb.com/modules.php?name=Content&pa=showpage&pid=61 Also, the 1908 Tunguska explosion was a massive and most mysterious explosion that occurred in Siberia that is estimated to be as powerful as up to 30 megatons of TNT. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tunguska_event Sep 05 09, 8:23 PM

zbeckabee

Rank Order of largest conventional explosions/detonations by magnitude -- These yields are approximated by the amount of the explosive material and its properties. They are rough estimates and are not authoritative. Event - Approximate yield: Minor Scale and Misty Picture 4 kt Heligoland 3.2 kt Halifax Explosion 2.9 kt Texas City Disaster 2.7-3.2 kt Port Chicago disaster 1.6-2.2 kt http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_the_largest_artificial_non-nuclear_explosions#Rank_Order_of_largest_conventional_explosions.2Fdetonations_by_magnitude Sep 05 09, 9:22 PM