Krakatoa - the day the world exploded - August 27, 1883 (Simon Winchester, 2003)

Light reading, very interesting discussion of a volcanic eruption that would have dwarfed the Mt. Pinatubo eruption that made such headlines in 1991 (and allowed us to see some wondrous sunsets over the Pacific while visiting Oxnard, CA that summer).

The author gets a little carried away, trying to make a case that the eruption was a catalyst for Islamic extremists in that part of the world at that time.  Something about the traditional gods (definitely nothing to do with Islam) being displeased with the white man.  Whatever.  Otherwise, this was interesting throughout.

Dutch were still in charge in this part of the world, though Britain taking over.  The story line reminds that the Dutch East India Company was one of the first stock corporations (1602).

Useful explanation of the Wallace Line - not difficult to grasp, but I had never paid any attention.

Very interesting explanations of plate tectonics and the way in which scientists developed the theory, then confirmed it.  The process was all new to me.

Krakatoa's eruption was one of the first big events following worldwide linkage via telegraph - newspapers worldwide followed the story.  One of the first international stories in a shrinking world.

The power of the eruption was simply unbelievable.  They figured out that sounds reported as distant gunfire on an island 2,968 miles away - were the sounds of the Krakatoa eruption.  That seems absolutely unbelievable - would you think any event in San Francisco could be heard in New York City (about 500 miles less distance)?

"Barographs" in London recording barometric pressure changes . . . all over the city (and, upon follow-up investigation, all over the world) - massive changes linked to the eruption.

Landscape artists are inspired - Hudson Valley school.

Anyway - the blown-away mountain is again rising.