lake lake indonesian large natural lake occupying lake kilometres long kilometres wide metres deep located middle northern indonesian island sumatra surface elevation metres lake stretches largest lake indonesia largest volcanic lake world lake site massive eruption estimated occurred years ago representing climate changing event largest known explosive eruption earth million years according theory global consequences human populations killed humans living time believed created population central east africa india affects genetic human world wide population present accepted eruption led volcanic winter worldwide decrease temperature higher latitudes additional studies significant amounts ash deposited great distance little indication significant climatic effect geology complex northern sumatra comprises overlapping volcanic volcanic fourth youngest world largest intersects older estimated dense rock equivalent material known youngest released largest explosive volcanic recent geological history following eruption dome formed new joining half separated longitudinal visible lake cone northwestern edge sparse vegetation suggesting young age years hill center volcano metres sea level south edge active geology sanctuary major eruption eruption event occurred years ago series forming location earlier having formed years ago eruption estimated making largest known explosive volcanic eruption million years estimated total material released eruption flowed ground approximately fell ash west based new method crystal concentration possibly erupted flows eruption destroyed area km2 ash deposits thick main vent eruption large deposited ash layer approximately thick site central india ash layer today thick parts malaysia covered ash fall addition variously calculated million tonnes short tons acid million tonnes short tons dioxide ejected atmosphere event subsequent collapse formed filling water created island center lake formed dome exact year eruption unknown pattern ash deposits suggests occurred northern summer summer monsoon deposited eruption lasted weeks ensuing volcanic winter resulted decrease average global temperatures years greenland ice record pulse reduced levels organic carbon plants animals southeast asia survived possible eruption caused planet wide die global cooling discussed self conclusion cooling started eruption conclusion supported lane studied lake core africa concluded volcanic winter eruption high deposits cause long term effects evidence studies mitochondrial dna suggests humans passed genetic time reduced genetic diversity expected given age species according theory proposed effects eruption decreased size human populations tens thousands individuals hypothesis widely accepted similar effects animal species observed suggests population recent activity major eruption years ago smaller magnitude occurred small cone formed southwestern margin lava recent eruption northwestern edge suggested lack vegetation eruption years parts shown partial chamber example pushing surface lake lake sediments risen eruption common large apparently upward pressure ground probably largest earth large earthquakes recently occurred vicinity volcano notably southern shore lake depth earthquakes recorded lake lies near fault runs centre sumatra sumatra fracture zone sumatra java result northeasterly movement sliding eastward moving zone area active near west coast sumatra major earthquakes including indian_ocean earthquake earthquake people people live lake houses noted distinctive roofs curve upwards end boat hull colorful flora fauna flora lake includes types emerged floating submerged surrounding countryside including areas tropical pine forests higher fauna includes species benthic animals lake nutrient poor native fish fauna relatively scarce strictly speaking near endemic found tributary rivers run lake locally known fish species threatened causing pollution changes water level numerous fish species introduced lake native fishes include species introduced species gallery additional reading climate feedback eruption years ago accumulation history science middle super eruption science
Lake Toba