Bandar Lampung - Lampung`s provincial tourism and cultural office is to organize the 18th Krakatoa Festival from August 23 to 31, 2008.
The festival will be officially kicked off at the Way Halim Cultural and Sports Center in Bandar Lampung on August 23, 2008, according to information from the local tourism office on Friday.
The event will be highlighted by performances of traditional dances, Sumatran elephants, a jet ski race and a Krakatoa Night.
On August 28, 2008, visitors will be taken on a Krakatoa Tour in speedboats and ferries to take a close look at Mount Anak Krakatoa in the Sunda Strait. A Krakatoa ritual will also be held near the volcano whose main body erupted in 1883.
Other activities forming part of the festival will be a Krakatoa Off Road Race (on August 29-31), para motor show (Aug. 24), traditional mask festival (Augst. 25), Lampung Expo and Lampung Art Festival (Aug. 26).
Prior to the Krakatoa Festival, Lampung will also organize a traditional fishing competition on August 1 to 3, 2008, Kiluan Fishing Week in the Kiluan Gulf on August 16 to 18, International Kite Festival at Kalianda Resort on August 22 to 24, and Fishing Competition at Ketapang Beach on August 24, 2008.
The Krakatoa Festival as part of the Visit Indonesia Year 2008 program is expected to attract many foreign tourists.
Mt Anak Krakatoa which rises from the sea in the Sunda Strait separating Sumatra and Java islands is one of Indonesia`s most active volcanoes. In 1883, the volcano erupted with such a devastating force that its fine ashes were carried by the winds to places ms far away as New York City and the tidal waves it caused reached the American west coast.
The eruption at the same time wiped off most of the volcano`s body from the map and all that was left were a few small islands one of which was eventually named "Anak Krakatau" or "Krakatoa`s Child" which is at present an extremely active young volcano. Anak Krakatau is clearly visible with the naked eye from beaches on the most western edges of Java and the southeastern parts of Sumatra islands.
Source: http://www.antaranews.com (July 25, 2008)