The 1883 eruption of Krakatoa begins its final, paroxysmal, stage.

The 1883 eruption of Krakatoa (Indonesian: Letusan Krakatau 1883) in the Sunda Strait began on 20 May 1883 and peaked on the late morning of Monday, 27 August 1883, when over 70% of the island of Krakatoa and its surrounding archipelago were destroyed as it collapsed into a caldera.

The eruption was one of the deadliest and most destructive volcanic events in recorded history. The explosion was heard 3,110 kilometres (1,930 mi) away in Perth, Western Australia, and Rodrigues near Mauritius, 4,800 kilometres (3,000 mi) away. The sound was claimed to be heard in 50 different locations around the world and the sound wave is recorded to have travelled the globe seven times. At least 36,417 deaths are attributed to the eruption and the tsunamis it created.

Significant additional effects were also felt around the world in the days and weeks after the volcano's eruption. Additional seismic activity was reported until February 1884, but any reports after October 1883 were later dismissed by Rogier Verbeek's investigation into the eruption.