Imagine a thundercrack, or a pistol shot, which circled the earth four times. This actually happened, and its origins are quite surprising.

In the Straits of Sunda the islands of Merak, Toppershoedje, Dwars in den Weg (Thwart the Way), Seboekoe, Sebesi, Lagoendi, Krakatoa, Taboean, Prince's Island, the Monnikrotsen (the Monk's Rocks ...