Krakatoa is a stratovolcano , also called a composite volcano, meaning it is a steep-sided, cone-shaped volcano built from layers of lava, ash, and rock fragments.

Quick Scoop

  • Type: Stratovolcano (composite volcano).
  • Shape: Tall, steep cone made of layered lava and ash deposits.
  • Behavior: Tends to have less frequent but very explosive eruptions, like the famous 1883 event.

Why this type matters

  • Stratovolcanoes usually form at subduction zones, where one tectonic plate sinks beneath another; Krakatoa sits on the convergent boundary between the Indo-Australian and Eurasian plates.
  • Their gas-rich, silica-rich magma (such as rhyolitic or andesitic magma) traps pressure, which is why eruptions can be extremely powerful and hazardous.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.