What made a noise that could be heard over a thousand miles away and was the cause of the coldest year globally of the 19th century?

Arpeggionist

Mt. Tambora off southeast Asia, which erupted in 1815. Over 90,000 people died in the eruption itself, and many millions of lives were effected in the following year. 1815 became known in Europe as the year without a summer, and in New England it was called "Eighteen Hundred and Froze to Death", since the cold weather did not allow the snow to melt or crops to grow and a high amount of people died in the cold weather. Nov 27 07, 9:33 PM

queproblema

Mt. Tambora, east of Java, not to be confused with Krakatoa, west of Java, despite the Hollywood title. It erupted April 5, 1815 in Indonesia and was heard in Sumatra, more than 1200 miles away. It ushered in the "Year Without a Summer." (Krakatoa is worth looking at, too.) The first link gives a two-paragraph study; Wiki tells about all you could want to know. http://www.history-magazine.com/volcanoes.html http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Tambora (I started this before Arpy posted. Here, have one of my links as your own.) Nov 27 07, 9:49 PM

Arpeggionist

Thanks. Your info complements mine quite nicely too. Nov 27 07, 10:49 PM