The Loudest Sound Ever: Krakatoa Eruption Heard 3,000 Miles Away

The 1883 eruption of Krakatoa volcano in Indonesia created the loudest sound in recorded human history, reaching an estimated 310 decibels. The explosion was so powerful that people heard it clearly 3,000 miles away in Australia and the island of Rodrigues near Africa, equivalent to hearing a sound in New York City from Los Angeles.

The Explosion That Shattered Eardrums

When Krakatoa exploded on August 27, 1883, the sound ruptured the eardrums of sailors 40 miles away. People within 100 miles experienced permanent hearing damage. The blast was so loud that residents on the island of Rodrigues, located 3,000 miles from Krakatoa, reported hearing what sounded like distant cannon fire. This remains the farthest distance any sound has ever been documented to travel and still be heard by human ears.

A Sound That Circled the Earth Four Times

The pressure wave from the explosion was so powerful that barometers around the world registered its passage. Scientific instruments tracked the wave as it traveled around the entire planet not once, but four complete times over the course of five days. Each time the wave circled Earth, it grew weaker, but the initial blast created atmospheric disturbances detected globally for nearly a week.

310 Decibels of Pure Destruction

Scientists estimate the eruption reached 310 decibels at its source. For comparison, a jet engine produces 150 decibels, a gunshot creates 160 decibels, and sounds above 194 decibels are no longer considered sound but shock waves. At 310 decibels, the Krakatoa eruption released energy equivalent to 200 megatons of TNT, roughly 13,000 times more powerful than the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima.

The Deadliest Consequences

The eruption and subsequent tsunamis killed over 36,000 people across Indonesia. The explosion generated tsunamis reaching 120 feet tall that destroyed hundreds of coastal villages. Ships anchored miles offshore were carried inland and deposited on hilltops. The blast destroyed two thirds of Krakatoa Island itself, leaving only a small remnant of the original landmass.

Global Effects of the Eruption

Krakatoa ejected 5 cubic miles of rock, ash, and pumice into the atmosphere. The ash cloud reached 50 miles high and circled the globe, creating spectacular red sunsets for years. Global temperatures dropped by 1.2°F for over a year because the ash blocked sunlight. Weather patterns changed worldwide, and the ash took several years to fully settle out of the atmosphere.

How the Sound Compares to Anything Else

No sound in modern recorded history approaches Krakatoa's volume. Nuclear bomb tests produce sounds around 250 to 270 decibels but occur high in the atmosphere. Rocket launches reach about 200 decibels. The closest natural competitor is the 1815 eruption of Mount Tambora, also in Indonesia, which was likely even louder but occurred before scientific instruments could measure it accurately.