A volcanic eruption cancels summer

The eruption of the Indonesian volcano Tambora reaches its peak

The largest volcanic eruption in the world since accurate records began occurred on the Indonesian island of Sumbawa, when Mount Tambora erupted violently on 10 April 1815. Despite its location far from Europe, the event had catastrophic consequences for Germany. The enormous quantities of ash, dust and sulphur released into the atmosphere drew a veil over the entire globe, causing several years of low temperatures and high humidity lasting until 1819.

The low summer temperatures, severe storms and floods that resulted in Central Europe led to crop failures, especially in southern Germany. Indeed, the harvest in Bavaria declined by a half. With grain prices increasing by up to 200% in 1817, the poor suffered and mortality rates rose. 1816 became known as “the year without a summer”.