The Forgotten Volcano That Froze Earth

In 1257, the Samalas volcano erupted with such intensity it likely triggered a global cooling event. This massive Indonesian explosion was one of the largest in human history, leaving a giant lake where a mountain once stood.

While most people know of famous eruptions like Vesuvius, the 1257 Samalas event was far more destructive and sent enough sulfur into the atmosphere to disrupt global weather patterns for years. It was so powerful that it created a massive caldera, which today is filled by the stunning Segara Anak lake. Even now, volcanic cones within that crater remain active and continue to reshape the landscape. Scientists discovered its true impact only recently by analyzing ice core samples from around the world.