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Krakatoa Trivia Quiz

Krakatoa was one of the most famous volcanic explosions in history, but how much do you know about it?

A multiple-choice quiz by AmandaM. Estimated time: 3 mins.

Author
AmandaM

Time
3 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
184,816

Updated
Nov 03 25

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
6 / 10

Plays
832

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. In which of these years did Krakatoa erupt? Hint

1880

1885

1882

1883

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Question 2 of 10

2. What is the area of water known as surrounding Krakatoa? Hint

Arabian Sea

Bering Strait

Sunda Strait

South China Sea

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Question 3 of 10

3. Is Krakatoa east of Java?

Yes

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Question 4 of 10

4. The Krakatoa explosion remains the loudest natural sound known to man. How far away was the explosion heard? Hint

Diego Garcia (middle of Indian Ocean)

Australia

Philippines

Rodriguez Island (Indian Ocean, near Mauritius)

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Question 5 of 10

5. One of the devastating effects of the Krakatoa eruption was the tsunami that was produced. How high were the waves believed to have reached? Hint

90 feet

10 feet

120 feet

50 feet

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Question 6 of 10

6. How many men, women and children were believed to have been killed by the tsunamis created by the eruption of Krakatoa? Hint

350,000

3,500

35,500

350

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Question 7 of 10

7. Did the eruption of Krakatoa affect the rest of the world?

Yes

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Question 8 of 10

8. Much of the information we have regarding the eruption of Krakatoa is thanks to a geologist named Rogier Verbeek. What was his nationality? Hint

English

Portugese

Spanish

Dutch

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Question 9 of 10

9. Since Krakatoa erupted a new 'child of Krakatoa' has been slowly building in the caldera of the old volcano. What do the locals call this child of Krakatoa? Hint

Krakatoa Asun

Krakatoa Junior

Anak Krakatau

Kuna Krakatoa

10. Krakatoa is one of numerous volcanoes along the 'ring of fire' which is an area around the Pacific basin where tectonic plates meet. Which two tectonic plates are responsible for the volcanic activity of Krakatoa? Hint

Eurasian and Philippine

Pacific and Eurasian

Indo-Australian and Eurasian

Pacific and Philippine

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. In which of these years did Krakatoa erupt?

Answer: 1883

Krakatoa had been rumbling for months, but it finally exploded on 27 August 1883. It has later been thought that the eruption of Krakatoa had a Volcanic Explosivity Index of 6, towards the top end of the scale whose highest number is 8.

2. What is the area of water known as surrounding Krakatoa?

Answer: Sunda Strait

Krakatoa (what's left of it) can be found in the Sunda Strait between Java and Sumatra. Krakatoa is in a part of the world known as the Ring of Fire.

3. Is Krakatoa east of Java?

Answer: No

Contrary to the 1969 film "Krakatoa - East of Java", Krakatoa was in fact, WEST of Java.

4. The Krakatoa explosion remains the loudest natural sound known to man. How far away was the explosion heard?

Answer: Rodriguez Island (Indian Ocean, near Mauritius)

Rodriguez Island is 2,968 miles, close to Mauritius. When Krakatoa erupted, eyewitnesses reported that they could hear a sound similar to heavy gunfire across the water.

5. One of the devastating effects of the Krakatoa eruption was the tsunami that was produced. How high were the waves believed to have reached?

Answer: 120 feet

The tsunamis formed from the explosion reached a height of at least 120 feet, and possibly even up to 140 feet. There are many eyewitness accounts from the colonial Dutch and the native population that testify to the monstrous height of the waves.

6. How many men, women and children were believed to have been killed by the tsunamis created by the eruption of Krakatoa?

Answer: 35,500

In most volcanic eruptions, the majority of deaths are caused not by lava, but by pyroclastic flows (huge ash and pumice clouds flowing down the flanks of the volcano). However, when Krakatoa erupted, the main cause of death was neither of these, but water.

7. Did the eruption of Krakatoa affect the rest of the world?

Answer: Yes

The explosion released millions of cubic metres of gas and particles, including sulphur dioxide into the atmosphere causing a volcanic winter. This affected the global climate for over a year. In the year following Krakatoa, average temperatures all across the world were lower than normal.

8. Much of the information we have regarding the eruption of Krakatoa is thanks to a geologist named Rogier Verbeek. What was his nationality?

Answer: Dutch

Rogier Verbeek was a Dutch geologist based in Batavia (now known as Jakarta), a couple of years before the eruption. At the time this area was known as the Dutch East Indies, now known as Indonesia. After the eruption Rogier was sent to collect eye witness testimony, official statements and his own observations which was then released as a journal called "Krakatau" (the Dutch word for Krakatoa).

9. Since Krakatoa erupted a new 'child of Krakatoa' has been slowly building in the caldera of the old volcano. What do the locals call this child of Krakatoa?

Answer: Anak Krakatau

Anak Krakatau (also known as Anak Krakatoa) first appeared above the water of the caldera in 1925 and has been steadily active since. The other names I just made up.

Answer: Indo-Australian and Eurasian

The Indo-Australian (oceanic) plate is subducting under the Eurasian plate (continental) plate. Subduction is an area where two tectonic plates collide and the heavier plate slides under the lighter one.

Source: Author AmandaM

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor minch before going online.
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